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Full text of "Specimens of Early English metrical romances : to which is prefixed an historical introduction on the rise and progress of romantic composition in France and England"

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BOHN'S  ANTIQUAKIAN  MBBAEY. 


ELLIS'S 
METKICAL   ROMANCES. 


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t,  Google 


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ts 


JBagogia-o^-MJ"a-^EiE!a. 


S-1      I 


1?^^ 


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i,..a^-)oglc 


IfSCIlliS 


lUK    AND    MtOCREM    OF    R0MA^T1C    COMPMITION    IN    FRANCE 
AND    ENQIAND. 


«SBK*s  xxKis.  ssa. 


I  HEW  XDinOn,  METHED  BT 


jr.  ID.  oiAZi&i^Bz^  ns(g.f  ]r^.a 


HEHBT  O.  BOHK,  TOBK  STBEET,  COTENT  OABDEN. 

KDCCCZLVin. 


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bvCooj^lc 


PRFFACE. 


G>  Thb  aanrces  of  enjoymeDt  containd'  in  on  earijr  Ihenton 
are  not  unfteqneDtly  obeMD«d,  ov  attogMlw  cmeeBled,  bT' 
dtt  tldck  veil  spread  over  dKm  by  Inrmd  aSfecMion.  "Hie 
floniauaartKtar  snurthenthe  mdMir  ifbsm  he  designed  to  nAcr 
ivto  the  wsrid.  But  sometimeB  the  difficulty  ccmatats  iir 
ftwDimriw'ag  to  ooe  genastioii  Ibe  dmnghtB  and  bngiu^  of 
another  long  passed  away.  Antiquaries  have  often  no^ 
talon  the  iia  aiii  of  mmaamiiBg  tlwM  obstacles,  and  instead 
at  aUnring  the  geaccMl  reader  to  studkft  on  which  they  thenr- 
srivsB  set  so  higb  a  valae,  by  mahiplying  and  SHWOthing  the 
awuuue  leading  to  fern,  hanw-aapnentBd  the  embairaawnenta 
{irarKwal^  existing.  But  thaagh  ecnetimea  wanting  the 
skdl  to  reconnend,  they  hwte-  seUom  been  deatitnte  of  the 
{wwer  to  a^moiate  o«r  eariy  writnv,  whose  merit  is  indeed 
so  great,  that,  whoever  possesses  the  iadnstry  to  conquer  their 
meaning,  must  inevitably  be  charmed  by  the  truth  and  vita- 
lity of  their  pictures,  the  ingenuous  frankness  of  their  send* 
ments,  the  force  and  eimplkity  of  their  language,  and  the 
buoyancy  and  joyonsnesa  of  their  general  character.  It  was 
conaequently  with  unmixed  feelings  of  pleasure  that  the  lovers 
of  genuine  poetry  witnessed  the  appearance  of  the  "  Specimens 
of  Eaily  English  Metrical  Itomances,"  edited  by  Geoi^  Ellia, 
who,  to  borrow  the  language  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  "  trans- 
ferred all  the  playful  fitscinationa  of  a  humour,  as  defightfiil 
as  it  was  uncommon,  into  the  foigotten  poetry  of  the  ancient 
mmstrelfl,  and  gave  life  and  ptqmlarity  to  compositions  which 
had  till  then  been  buried  in  the  closet  of  the  antiquary." 

It  is,  indeed,  difficult  to  estimate  too  highly  the  services 
which  Ellis  rendered  to  literature  by  the  publication  of  this 
vork.  The  interminable  ballad  romances  ^  the  middle  ages 
had  daonted  aD  but  the  few  initiated;  but  thra,  as  if  by 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


magic,  they  became  the  friends  and  companions  of  Hunuands. 
Ellis,  in  fact,  did  for  ancient  romance  what  Percy  had  previ- 
onely  accomplished  for  early  poetry;  and  if  his  labours  are 
somewhat  less  known  than  those  of  the  learned  Prelate,  the 
reason  must  be  sought  in  the  costly  form  in  which  his  woilc 
has  hitherto  been  circulated.  "  Breathes  there  a  man  with 
soul  BO  dead"  as  not  to  feel  some  interest  in  the  romantic 
details  which  onoe  awalcened  enthusiasm  in  the  hearts  of  the 
knight,  the  prinoe,  and  the  peasant,  and  wero  welcomed  alike 
by  warrior  in  the  fidd  and  "bird*  in  the  bower?"  Our 
country  almost  ceases  to  be  mrary  En^and  without  its  ballads 
and  its  romances. 

In  the  presoit  edition,  care  has  been  taken  not  to  tUmiwii^ 
the  popular  character  of  the  work  by  an  unnecessary  exhi- 
bition of  archaeological  learning.  It  has  been  considered 
sufficient  to  amend  siLenlly  the  rarious  philological  errors  into 
which  Ellis  had  fallen,  without  pointing  them  out  to  special 
attention,  and  the  editorial  additions  and  coirections  wlU 
tend,  it  is  believed,  to  fitcilitate  the  reader's  progress,  withoot 
distractii^  his  attention. 

Julg,  1848. 


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CONTENTS. 


iMTuitnTcnoM.  SacT.  I. — View  of  the  Chukgei  whicli  t4Mik  plu* 
in  Qie  Rotntnce  or  French  LangnigB. — Its  Freeemtioii  end  Im- 
pRnemmt  titer  the  EatabliahmcDt  of  the  Northemi  in  Nor- 
iBtad]'. — lleir  flnt  Attempta  at  Comporition. — ^leir  Stjls  im- 
jroimi  by  the  Clergy. — Remark*  do  their  Uiiutral*        

II. — Fint  Ronwncei  nerelj  Metrical  Hirtoriea. — Oii^  of  Ro> 
Bumtic  KetioD  ucribol  by  Bisliap  Percy  to  the  Xortltem  Nation*, 
by  Hr.  Warton  to  the  Arabiani — by  otbeis  attribnted  to  tlie 
Cdtie  TMbei  of  Armorica,  Wales,  &c. — Attempt  to  reconells  then 
Opiidoiia. — FrobaHfity  that  the  fint  French  Bomancea  were 
wtitten  in  Engluid. — Anthoritiei  in  rapport  of  thii  Snppodtion 

III. — Inquiry  into  the  State  of  WaJea  dnring  the  elereath,  twelfth, 
and  thirtemtli  Ceotnriea. — Intimate  Conneetione  of  the  WeUh  and 
Nonnam. — Infloenee  of  thii  on  Romauce. — State  of  the  Welih 
nibawiflifn  Oe  Scottiah  Border.— ProbaUUty  that  some  original, 
and  many  tramlated  Romancet,  were  the  work  of  Seottiih  Pueti. 


AFPBNnix  TO  IirraovncTioir. 

1.  Analyrai  of  Fater  Alphontoi S9 

¥2.  Maiie'i  Lays 45 

Rotnaitcei  relating  to  Aithnr 75 

Merlin,  Part  I 77 

Merlin,  Part  2 99 

Morte  Arthur f. 143 

.Cffli  of  Warwick           *:          Iflg 

^'^SafeSEBsfeff"      ■■      -  *39 

Richard  Cnenr  de  Ijon           ....        .* 282 

Roinancea  relating  to  Chariemigiw    342 

Roland  and  Ferragni 346 

SlrOtncl  367 


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COKTEKTS. 


S/^Fenimbru 

Tba  Sena  Wbe  Muten        

VFIorice  rnnd  BUnncbeflonr        

TBKiTsrcjziK — r:"   

Sir  toimbry    

'sir  i'nuiioQT    ..„        „ 

Lyfe  of  IpoMfdoii       

Sir  EglMnoar  of  Aitoyi  

I^f  le  Fimue _ 

Kr  Egcr,  Sir  GnhiHe,  md  Sir  Gttj-tted 


VAmt*  wd  AmTliqil 


bESCRIPTIOK  OF  THE  FROSTISPIECE. 


Tbi  illumiiution  prefixed  to  the  present  volume  is  taken  fcom 
a  very  fine  tad  intereetiDg  Manuscript  in  the  Britioh  Huaeuin, 
entitled  "  Romui  da  Qnete  du  Skint  Onwl,"  which  haa  been 
obliginglj  p<anted  tut  to  the  Pnblisher  b;  Sir  Frederick  Haddeo, 
The  centre  figure  repreeents  King  Arthur ;  on  his  right  is 
Queen  Qinevr*,  uid  on  his  left  the  enchanter  Hertiu.  The 
Qraad  CKtnt,  Cupbearer,  and  Minstrel,  in  the  for^roand,  are 
distinguished  bj  their  seTeral  in^gnia.  On  the  left  of  the  Queen 
ia  a  Ladj-in-Waiting,  and  on  the  right,  between  Heriin  and  the 
Onnd  Camr,  is  a  ladj,  Huppoeed  to  be  bringing  in  a  petition 
to  pnsent  to  the  King. 


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INTEODUCTION. 


SECTION  I. 

ViMT  at  the  Chaaga  wluch  took  plice  in  tlie  It 

i;iuge,  in  anueqadce  of  the  fint  Dmiih  Ihtuiodb. — Iti  FmerraCioa 
■Bd  ImproTemcnt  hj  the  ume  People  tRer  their  EatablishmeDt  in  Nor^ 
Bandj. — Tbeir  fint  Attemptj  at  Compodtion. — Tbdr  SEjle  improved 
by  th«  Clergf .— Remvlu  on  their  Hiiutrd*. 

It  is  generally  admitted  that  tbe  word  Samane^  was  first 
employed  to  signify  the  Roman  kngiiase  as  sptAen  in  the 
European  proTincea  of  the  empire;  and  that,  in  its  most 
extennve  sense,  it  comprised  all  the  dialects  of  which  the 
basis  was  the  vnlgar  Latin,  whatever  might  be  the  other 
materials  which  entered  into  their  consbiiction.  Hie  name 
was,  therefore,  equally  applicable  to  the  Italian,  the  Spanish, 
and  French;  and  was  sometimes,  Ihongh  incorrectly,  applied 
to  ihe  Tulgar  languages  of  other  ooantries;!'  but  the  earliest 
mud  most  <>»p'l'»''  use  of  the  word  in  this  island  was  to 
«zpRSi  that  dialect  of  ttte  French  which  had  been  introduced 
amoi^  ns  by  1^  Normsn  conquest.  It  was  afterwards,  hv 
an  easy  transition,  employed  to  signify  indiscriminately  t^ 
SDch  works  as  were  mnnxMed  in  tlut  dialect;  and  lastly,  in 
cmiaequence  uf  the  growing  fondness  of  our  Korman  ancestors 
(br  tales  of  chivalry,  became  exdusiTely  appropriated  to  this 
spedea  t^  oonqMsition. 

Bndh  bdng  the  variatitRis  which  have  taken  place  in  the 
meaning  of  tfao  word,  it  aeema  neccssaiy  that  we  should 

*  la  dd  French  it  is  tomatlnes  wilttmi  BPmam,  t&d  tomMiiDM 


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3  tKTBOItVOnoiT. 

endeavour  to  aMertaio,  it  least  by  appnixim&tioD,  the  dat«8 
of  these  changes;  and  it  will  probably  appear  ti>at  an  inatten- 
tion to  this  preliminary  has  produced  mnch  of  the  difieience 
of  opinion  which  at  piesest  prenik  reapecttng  the  origin  of 
Romantic  fiction. 

"Hie  best  French  histoiianB  inform  us  that  the  Bomance 
b^an  to  supersede  tho  Latin  as  a  colloquial  language  in  Oaul 
'  about  the  b^inning  of  the  ninth  century,  llie  sereral  cor- 
ruptions introduced  by  a  succession  of  barbarous  nations  had 
b^n  blended  into  a  common  moss,  and  gtaduoUy  formed  a 
language  which,  from  its  copiousness,  from  the  simplicity  of 
its  grammar,  and  froai  its  close  analogy  to  the  dialects  of  the 
nei^bouring  nationa,  was  a  more  uMfuI  instmment  of  general 
intercooTse  uian  the  Latin,  though  less  suited  to  literary  com- 
pDsitions,  to  which,  in  the  first  inatani^,  it  cannot  be  snppoaed 
to  have  been  applied.  Indeed  the  Latin  could  not  be  mune. 
diately  and  totally  fbigotten,  even  by  the  vulgar,  because  the 
greater  number  d  its  words  were  retained  in  the  new  jargon, 
and  because  it  was  still  the  vehicle  of  religious  instancbon, 
and  the  medium  »f  all  written  contracts  betireeu  individnals, 
as  well  as  of  all  laws  issued  by  the  sovereign.  Of  the 
Romance  language  in  this  early  state  very  few  written  nie- 
oimens  can  have  existed;  yet,  of  these  few,  one  has  beat  fi>r- 
tunately  preserved. 

The  lungs  of  Fiance  of  the  second  twx  adopted,  after  tlte 
example  of  Charlemagne,  the  injudicious  piactice  of  dividing 
their  dontinions  nmnng  their  children ;  whose  ambitioB,  thus 
excited,  led  to  ft  long  succeasion  of  dvil  discord.  The  soDa  of 
Louis  le  Debonnaire,  even  during  his  lifetime,  were  constantly 
inarms  against  each  other,  end  often  against  their  &ther;  and 
their  dissensions  after  his  death  produced  a  dreadful  waste  of 
blood  during  *he  war  which  was  terminated  by  the  deetmative 
battle  of  Fontenay,  in  June  B41.  It  was  tneiefore  thon^t 
necessary  that  their  reconciliation  should  be  marked  by  the 
greatest  possible  decree  at  solemnly;  their  rec;>ecti'ra  vmies 
were  called  in  as  witoesBes  and  parties  to  the  oath  by  whidi 
they  bound  themselves  to  rest  satisfied  with  the  division  of 
terribly  finoUy  adindged  to  eaoh  i  and,  that  the  terms  of  t^* 
oadi  might  be  perfect^  intdligiblc,  it  was  tranalated  into  tbe 
'nksr  bmne  of  tbe  ■ovcntt  iwtioiis.  Lonis  le  Oermaniqne 
sd^MsedttieFrenohaimyofhisbnjdierinAEmMKce;  Chanes 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


>,-.^ 


TBB  BOKAKOB  mfaUAOE. 


le  ChaOTB  rctid  Us  okQi  in  tile  Tndeaqne,  or  Tentonic,  to  the 
flolfert  of  Louis ;  and  botii  received  the  assent  of  die  troops 
to  tlie  agreement  in  llie  ssme  langtu^ee  respectively.     Ttus 


toe  SupG 


e  Supplement  of  his  Dictionusire  da  Vieux  I^ngage,  and  im 
Mr.  Ritson's  Dissertation  on  Romance  and  Minsbdsy. 

It  appears  from  this  specimen  that  the  Romance  of  the 
year  842,  whidi  very  nearly  resembled  the  present  Provencal, 
-was  the  general  language  of  France,  and  not  a  soutLcm 
dialect ;  becanse  the  prOTmces  of  Aquitaine  and  Nenstria  were 
Hit  ordinal  dominions  of  Charles :  diey  had  been  confirmed 
to  him  in  the  present  treaty,  and  their  inhabitants  formed  a 
0eat  part  of  lus  army.  At  the  same  time,  the  Frvdcish,  of 
Tentonic,  is  mid  to  have  prevailed  in  some  of  the  east^n  pro- 
vinces,* that  is  to  say,  in  Franche  Comt^  and  the  Lyonese,  as 
irdl  as  in  the  connbies  bordering  on  the  Rhine,  the  Mense, 
and  tiM  Scheldt. 

Btrt  the  nrnfermity  of  &e  Romance  langnBBe  vras  not  of 
ioBg  duration.  In  845,  a  fbrmidable  armv  of  Danes  or  Nor- 
Bn&B  entering  die  Seine,  carried  their  oepredatione  to  die- 
wry  gates  of  Paris;  and  the  booty  tins  obtained  encouraging 
Aem  to  fresh  enterprises,  they  renewed  them  almoet  withont 
intermiaaian,  and  formed  a  permanent  cstaUiahment  in  the 
western  provinces,  which  they  gradually  extended  till  the  year 
912,  when  tiieir  usmpations  were  confirmed  to  them  1^  a 
tieaty  witb  Charles  the  Simple.  RoUo  received  in  mamago 
Uie  hing's  daughter  GiseDe,  and  for  her  dower  &e  aorereignty 
cf  Neostiia,  smce  called  Jformasdy,  to^etlier  with  extensive 
ti^tts  in  Britany,  on  the  sole  conditions  of  embracing  Chris- 
tuouty,  and  of  putting  a  stop  to  the  devostatioiu  wluch  ha^ 
been  continned  dnring  half  a  century. 

From  these  invasions  nltiiiiately  resisted  tiie  division  of 
die  Xemanee  langnage  into  an  almost  infinite  Btmibe^  of 
dideets,  which  snbsistod  dming  the  neater  part  of  tiie  tenOt 
eentany.  It  is  not  meant  &at  Ibe  Normans  materially  oon-- 
liAKtad  to  Hob   i^sange,  l^  tmportu^  into  tiie  eonqnered 


fits  tbul  betrenusln  "  m.  miticun      f"**"      ""™""i  ™ 
and  tbe  ■sms-ms  otdervd  at  tiw  oomou  of  AilM  In  09J, 

B  Z 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


4  urrsoDrcTioH. 

cugntiy  a  bufairoiH  ja^pn  compoaed  of  forei^  and  discor. 
dant  materiBls;  because  it  ia  endent  that  their  infloence  in 
tUa  recpect  must  hare  been  confined  to  the  temtoiy  within 
iritidi  the^  farmed  their  establiriunent.  But  uniformity  of 
speech  throngbout  a  large  extent  of  countzy  can  only  ariae 
nom  an  eaay  and  constant  intercotme  between  its  inhabitants ; 
and  the  intcrrupticm  of  this  intercoime  most  gtre  birth  to  a 
direnity  of  dialects.  Ibe  prevalence  of  the  Latin  had  resulted 
from  the  extent  and  ttabilih-  of  the  Roman  empire;  and  the  ' 
purity  of  the  Komance  could  only  have  been  preserved  by  the 
pcnnaaence  of  that  of  Chariemagne.  Hia  partition  of  his 
extensive  territory,  and  the  disputes  amongst  his  immediate 
SncceseoTB,  enervated  the  strength  of  the  French  monarchy, 
and  laid  open  the  conntry  to  the  ravages  of  the  northem  inva- 
ders; whcee  triumphs  were  less  pernicious  from  the  misery 
they  immediately  produced,  than  from  the  example  of  suc- 
cessful usurpation  which  they  held  out  to  private  ambition. 
France  was  parcelled  out  amongst  a  number  of  petty  tyrants, 
always  in  arms  against  each  other,  or  aseinst  their  sovereign; 
and  the  vulgar  tongue,  not  yet  subjectea  to  the  roles  of  gram- 
mar, or  fixed  by  any  just  models  of  compoeitioiu  was  aban- 
doned to  all  the  innovations  which  might  arise  either  btaa.  the 
ignorance  or  from  the  mixed  races  of  the  inhabitants,  in  the 
several  independent  districts  into  which  the  counby  was 
divided. 

Nor  was  this  alL  Duiins  the  stnu^  revolutions  of  the 
tenth  century  the  whole  ectieme  of  society  was  essentially 
altered ;  so  that  it  became  necessary  to  invent  new  names  for 
a  great  variety  of  new  relations,  and  arbitrarily  to  enlist  these 
baiiiarons  words  into  the  Latin,  from  whence  they  were  again 
tnnaferred  into  all  the  vulgar  languages  of  Europe.  &as 
anwe  a  new  I^tinity,  which  has  given  no  small  disbirbence  to 
modem  etymol<^:i8ts. 

It  is  not  necessaiT  that  we  should  search  minutely  for  thp 
general  causes  of  uiat  scene  of  confiision  called  the  feudal 
system;  but  there  is  one  of  the  changes  introduced  by  it 
which  requires  to  be  briefly  noticed,  because  it  baa  contributed 
to  give  much  of  their  distinctive  colouringto  the  species  of 
compoaiUons  commonly  called  romances.  This  was  the  esta- 
I  blishment  of  an  hereditary  nobility. 

^Vhen  the  Franks  took  possession  of  Gaul,  they  seem  to 


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^^ 


STATE  or  <U.UX  VKDBB  TBS  rKAKKS.  S 

Ittve  divided  Hie  proper^  of  tiie  conqnra^d  into  Salic  lands 
and  military  hentfieas,*  llie  former  were  tlie  portiona  of  Jaiid 
allottod,  in  the  first  instance,  to  the  oonc|ueTora  in  nbeolnte 
immer^.  The  latter  were  left  to  the  onainal  prt^trieton, 
•miOx  a  reserve  of  a  considerable  port  of  tLeir  revenaee,  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  government;  thev  answered  the  pur- 
poses  of  our  civil  list ;  and  a  certain  allotment  of  territory 
UMmed  the  salaries  of  all  the  civil  and  military  officers,  who 
-were  nominated  by  the  prince,  and  held  their  offices  tta  life. 
Such  benefieei  therefore  were  strictly  licnigt,  and  gave  their 
name  to  ttie  benefices  of  the  church,  which  they  eiartly  resem- 
bled ;  and  every  inhabitant  of  Hie  country,  whether  of  Frank- 
ish  or  Ijlallic  origin,  being  equally  eligible  to  every  office  at 
the  sole  discretion  of  the  sovereign,  there  was  no  permanent 
distinction  of  rank  in  the  state,  except  that  of  prince  and 
snlject  Bat  daring  the  impotence  of  the  crown  under  the 
klujgs  of  the  second  race,  the  Dukes,  or  governors  of  pro- 
vinces, Uta  Earls,  or  governors  of  towns,  and  some  other 
offioen  of  state,  extorted  the  hereditary  establishment  of 
their  respective  dignities  in  their  own  fiinuliesj  and,  uniting 
the  property  of  the  land  with  the  right  of  administering 
justice,  became  the  real  sovereigns  of  the  distriotB  over  whi<£ 
they  had  befo^  presided  as  temporary  magistrates.!  '^^ 
ambitiML  of  the  delegates  who  extorted,  ai^  the  weakness 
of  the  princes  who  made  Uiese  concessions,  may  be  easily 
accotinted  for;  but  we  can  only  explain  the  acquiescence  oi 
the  nation  in  an  exchange  of  freedom  for  the  moat  complicated 
davcty,  by  the  intalerable  misery  to  which  they  had  been 
reduced  by  the  Norman  invasions.  Indeed,  t£e  Norman 
miters  tell  us  that  Bollo  was  compelled  to  stipulate  for  the 
grant  of  certain  rents  in  Britany,  because  it  was  impossible, 
in  consequence  of  the  ravages  committed  by  his  own  orders,  or 
those  of  his  predecessors,  to  find  Batieistence  for  his  anny  in 
%e  (fertile  province  of  Normandy. 

But  these  ferocious  men  had  no  so<mer  settled  themselves 
in  their  conquests,  than  they  eagerly  adopted,  and  cnltJTOtf^ 
willi  the  greatest  care,  the  language  of  tiie  vanquished.     Wil- 

*  Sa  Bamlt'i  Rcmarqnei  partienlitia  nir  U  Koande  Raoc,  Ab. 
Chnm.  de  rUiit.  de  Fruoe. 


t  Tlw  ntafaliduDcnt  of  tbii  numitroBi  ijrtem  \m  nnullj  pliecd  and«r 
Oe  i^n  of  Baool,  who  wm  ntwd  to  the  thn^  of  Fiance  a.d.  923i 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


It  nriBODVCtiOH. 

liua  I.,  the  iin»<dutte  imrrnincir  of  Bollo,  b^ng  dflnimiB  thttt 
hia  Mm  Richard  Aould  acquire  some  knowledge  of  the  Danidi, 
finrnd  it  neceosuy  to  have  him  educated  at  Baieox,  tather 
than  at  Booen,  where  the  Homanoe  ImJ  already  obtained  a 
decided  prefewmoe  ;*  and  it  waa  to  the  capital  of  Notmaaidy 
that  the  Fiench  were  indebted  ibr  the  preseiTation  of  their 
vulgar  tongue,  which  there  found  an  aaylnro  under  an  acdve 
and  yigmone  gorerumeut;  while  France  itself,  till  near  the 
end  of  the  tenth  centunr.  was  torn  to  pieces  by  contending 
fiictions.  It  continiied  indeed  to  be  qmken  at  Paris ;  but  its 
^nesal  diffiuion  over  Europe  was  the  work  of  the  Normans. 
By  them  it  wae  fint  emplOTcd  in  oonmoBttioo ;  and  it  may 
perhapi  be  £urly  aasmned,  U>at  the  people  of  Ficardy,  and  Ot 
the  other  provinces  to  the  north  of  the  Loire,  whose  dialects 
had  already  a  mixtnie  of  the  Teutonic,  would  readily  oasimi' 
Isle  them  to  the  speech  of  a  ueighbooring  province,  whose 
inhabitants  had  astonished  the  world  by  the  unexampled 
^lendoui  of  their  conquests. 

l%e  easiest  specimen  of  northern  Fiench  literature  is  a 
ntetrical  life  of  Wandril  and  ot  some  other  saints,  translated 
from  the  Ijstin  by  Ibibaut  de  Vernon,  Canon  of  Rouen,  aboat 
the  middle,  perhaps,  of  the  eleventh  century  ;f  but  no  copy  Of 
this  work  has  yet  been  discovered.    The  next  in  point  of  anti- 

r'ty,  according  to  the  French  historians,  was  the  poem  on 
first  crusade,  compiled  firom  the  Latin  chronicl^  of  the 
flie  time  by  the  Chevalier  Beohada  of  Limt^es.  This,  how- 
ever, has  been  also  lost;  but  the  dialect  m  which  it  was 
written  m^  be  inferred  &om  his  having  undertaken  it  by  the 
advice  of  Gaubert,  a  Norman.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been 
begun  about  the  year  1112,  and  finished  about  1125;  and 
B^mitting  this  date,  it  is  less  antient  than  the  first  work  of 
Fhil^ipe  de  Thaon,  called  the  Livre  de*  CrSaiuras,  a  French 
metnt^l  treatise  on  diranok^,  written  soon  after  the  year 
1106,  and  described  by  the  Abb^  de  la  Rue.:(     Another  worit 

*  Bee  Dadon  of  6t.  Ghuntiii,  p.  83,  ed.  Daclianie. 

t  M.  da  la  Roe  Kfi,  "  a  Icng  limt  b^fort  tkt  MUfMtt.-"  H.  de  Is 
Jlnsillira,  on  the  cootnrjr,  •anm*  to  plux  Thttuuit'i  work  about  1108. 
Yet  they  both  die  the  wne  utboritj,  vii.  to).  iiL  p.  379,  irfthe  Bcne- 


t  PriDled  hj  Mr,  Wriflit,  Sro.  1841.    For  mm  cor 
«a  0«  nittior  aid  Aimtimg],  w  Wn^'a  Biog.  Brit.  Xitvaiia,  An^ 
NonMB  Period,  w  BC-7. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


z^KbT  sm^EAjr  pdsxbt.  7 

\0  ibt  Bune,  ia  i  poem  od  nilund  \aaUwj,  tnad^ted  from  &b 
AgHariii,  and  fi"i"l«l  after  1 121 :  aftw  wlikfa  we  ham  tiw 
PiMarbs  of  ScAoBoa  in  Tone,  t^  fintiKn  de  Naatenil;  a 
Britiak  md  Anf^Ssxan  hiabnj,  by  Qeofflroi  Oaimar;  and  4 
iiabarf  of  Hcaiiy  L,  alludad  ta  m  that  paeiu  aa  tiie  oompon- 
4iaB«rf  one  Duid;  all  written,  aa  the  AbW  de  la  Rne  mjr 
teaaonably  supposes,  dnring  tlie  reign  of  Stephen. 

Una  eeriea  of  beta  and  dates  aaema  to  l^d  to  die  foIloW' 
i^  comdniuMia:  T^nt,  diat  the  aarAem  Bomaoce,  or  Nonnsn 
Faaxi^  was  not  eaqdofed  aa  a  written  b 
Ae  dine  of  ^  con^ueat;  and  aeoondly,  dut,  ^ 
bmdied  Tears  i^dt  elapaed  between  tite  > 
flisvcndi  centoiy  and  dte  aooencm  of  Heniy  ~ 
As  piincqMl  oompaeitiont  in  flist  language  m 

malaadittonil  tsacts,  Hveaof  aainta,  aeaentific  treatises,  or' 
All  of  theae  were  metrical;  and  generally,  per- 
ii_  .,        ,..-.  Hie  minor  oomposHiona  wra«, 


bated  instance  is  the  chmuon  d«  BoUtmd,*  which  was  sung 
1^  die  minatrel  Taillefer  at  the  battle  of  Hasliagg:  the  ur- 
9»Hl»i$  w  satirical  songs  seem  to  ha*e  formed  a  principal 
amnaonait  of  the  armies  durii^  the  first  cnmdejf  and  they 
maj  be  presumed  to  bare  abtnmded  so  as  to  have  given  great 
offence  in  England,  sinoe  Henry  I.,  aumamed  U  Beait-cltre, 
cither  on  acconnt  of  his  Iheniry  attainments  or  in  honour  of  his 
libeial  patronage,  thought  fit  to  pnniah  acatirigt,  the  Chevalier 
Loo  de  la  Bane,  by  patting  ont  his  eyes.J  The  nnmber  of 
eaoomiaatic  songs  msy  be  inferred  from  the  extensive  largesses 
to  minstrels  which  are  rectn'ded  during  this  period;  ana  coH' 

*  Tbe  Me  Mr.  Kitno,  in  ln>  DiacitttiaD  on  RcmuiiM  rad  Mia-  ' 
ttni^,  p.  zxni,  bw  wd,  "Tbercal  dunwndBKalkiidwu,  wtfuetlkm- 
^fy,  ■  netriol  nimBioe,  of  great  Icnffth,  span  the  fit>l  buttle  vl  Saa». 
vaai,  d  whicb  Tulleier  snlj  dunted  ■  part."  He  proboblr  mewit  bd 
non  tiiaa  tlut  be  did  not  wiah  tiie  ■■!  ilimi  to  bAqoottiDiud.  Williun 
of  Malnieibnt;,  whom  he  qiutea,  mtjs,  "CjUiTUuniA  Roilaidi  imeioaU, 
Ac."  w]dch  mtat  to  mmn  m  tMf,  ud  sot  a  wutrieal  muae*  ^grtat 
Imflh. 

t  La  KimilUre,  vri.  i.  p.  160,  «b>  tmiicribei  ayawH'  ^  l^Oa^ 
Dei  per  Fraacoa,  p.  ISO,  in  inoaf  of  Oat  bet. 

%  Abb<  de  la  Bm.   Jtf^itttA.,  toL  xii.  £■  301. 


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temporary 
of  the  tint' 


UITSODUCTIOIT. 

writers  not  imfrequentl^  dte  the  hiBtoric&l*  IiaUads 
e  as  authorities  for  occasional  anecdotes.  But  it 
may  be  safely  aftirmed  that  no  trace  of  a  professed  work  of 
Action;  no  semblance  of  an  epic  &ble;  in  short,  no  specimen 
of  whnt  we  should  now  call  a  romance,  is  to  be  fbnnd  before 
f  the  middle  of  the  twelfth  century;  indeed  this  period  mi^t, 
perhaps,  be  still  farther  limited. 

The  preceding  list,  it  is  true,  con  only  be  admitted  as 
negative  eridence ;  and  it  may  be  objected,  that  many  writen 
ore  likely  to  have  existed  besides  those  whose  works  have 
been  preserred,  or  whose  names  have  been  accidentally 
recorded  by  their  surviving  contemporaries:  it  may  also  be 
contended,  that  the  minstrels  of  those  times,  who,  like  their 
predecessore  the  Bards  and  Scalds,  were  accustomed  to  pre- 
eerve  in  their  traditional  rhymes  various  anecdotes  of  religions 
as  well  OS  military  history,  may  be  supposed  to  have  formed  a 
certain  stock  of  &buloii8  narratives,  which  they  recited  for 
the  amusement  of  a  less  devout  or  more  ind(Jent  class  <£ 
hearers. 

To  the  first  of  these  objections  it  would  be  easy  to  find  an 
answer,  if  it  were  necessary  to.  inquire  into  the  subject  of  com- 
positions whose  existence,  though  certainly  possible,  is  not 
very  probable :  but  the  second  objection  may  deserve  to  be 
examined  at  large,  although  we  are  unable  after  all  to  offer 
anything  more  than  a  conjectural  history  of  what  may  be 
called  the  tniditioDal  literature  of  this  period. 

That  a  chiss  of  men  who  cultivated  the  arts  of  amnsement 
as  a  profession,  were  known  and  esteemed  by  the  Normans  at 
the  time  of  the  conquest,  is  undeniably  proved  by  the  evidence 
of  Domesday-book ;  in  which  wc  find  a  certain  Behdic  poe- 

*  OrdericD*  Titalii,  ipnklDg  of  St.  William,  uyi,  ■■  Tolgo  mhUvt  a 
Joatlaioriiii*  dt  iUo  camtii-ina  ;  led  jare  pniferenda  est  retitia  inthen- 
tica  qua  >  religwni  doctoribni  solerter  cat  edita,  eC  a  Madinti*  lectoribns 
nTersnter  leeta  «8t,  in  commniii  fntram  andientlL"  Scriptora  Noiman. 
ap.  Duchetne,  p.  bW.  Tbis  rtlalio  atUAtntiea,  of  wbich  Ordoicai 
gives  an  abridgemmt,  swmi  to  have  formed  the  devotional  romance  of 
GuillBuine  an  Coart-nei,  a  French  commander  employed  by  Cbtrletnagm 
■gainit  U»  Sanu«ni  in  Spain,  and  rawarded  for  bii  aerricn  by  a  pment 
of  the  dnchy  of  Aqultaine.  St.  William  ended  hia  day*  in  a  cloiiter.  Bla 
rowKvx,  according  to  Le  Grand,  wii  writtcD  ia  Provencal  by  a  Troub* 
■lour,  ai  waa  alao  niilamena,  which  contain!  lome  military  anecdotM  of 
Charlemagne.     See  Prettce  am  Fahtiaol,  fee 


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sesaed  of  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Gloncestenlure,  under  Ike 
title  of  joculator  regi*.  The  register,  of  coarse,  does  not 
explain  the  talents  of  this  joculator,  or  jougleur;  but  it  rtacy 
be  fiiiriy  assumed  that  they  were  similar  to  those  of  the  min- 
strel TaiQefer,  who,  aa  Wsce  infonnfi  us,  "  moult  bien  chan- 
tout,"  and  who  preceded  the  Duke  of  Normandy  at  the  battle 
of  Hastings,  "  singing  about  Charlemagne,  and  Holland,  and 
Olivier,  and  the  Tassals  who  died  at  Ronoeeralles."  We  are 
further  informed  by  Gainiar,  that  he  performed  many  mar- 
velloua  feats  of  dexterity :  throwinf^  Iue  lance  into  the  air  M 
if  it  were  a  small  stick;  catching  it  by  the  point  before  he 
cast  it  against  the  enemy;  and  repeating  the  same  operation 
with  his  sword,  so  that  they  who  beheld  him  consid^ed  him 
as  a  conjuror — 

Ii'un  dit  &  Valtra  Id  co  reit, 

Ke  CO  eeteit  enchantement, 

Ee  dl  fesait  derant  la  gent, 

Quant,  &c. 

Kow,  unlen  it  could  be  proved  that  the  Normans  adtnited 
the  pnrfession  of  minstrelsy  fimm  the  French,  of  wbidi  were 
is  no  evidence,  it  must  follow  that  they  carried  it  with  them 
fixim  Daimark;  and  as  Bishop  Percy  has  shown  that  a 
character  nearly  analogous  existed  amongst  the  Danes  as  weS 
as  the  Anglo-Saxons,  the  deriTation  of  the  minstrels  from  the 
Seaid*  and  GUe-mm  of  the  North,  as  established  in  the  Essay 
prefixed  to  the  "  Heliques  of  Ancient  English  Poetry,"  seems 
to  rest  upon  as  &ir  historical  testimony  as  can  be  required  iit 
confirmation  of  such  an  opinion. 

It  may,  therefore,  be  reasonably  admitted  that  Bollo  carried 
with  him  his  domestic  bards,  wno,  when  their  native  idiom 
bc^ian  to  &11  into  disuse,  would  have  been  compelled  to  exer- 
cise their  talents  in  the  newly-adopted  language ;  but  still  the 
success  of  their  poetical  efforts  must  have  depended  on  the 
state  in  which  they  found  this  language,  to  the  perfection  oi 
which  they  could  not,  from  their  want  of  learning,  materially 
contribute. 

It  is  true  that  the  first  progress  of  mankind,  from  a  rude 
and  uncoulli  jargon  to  sellled  forms  of  speech,  has  beeii^in 
almost  every  country,  attributed  to  poetry.  Henoe  the  deifi- 
cation of  the  Muses,  the  &ble  of  Oi^ihenB,-and  various  allego- 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


DUV  Jbe,  it  aertaiuly  bwC  be  <^— yuMiJ  of  t 

rtnwinlvw  W  MHiidiii^  ti«  fc—iw.  m4  m 
iny  witb  cadi  otber,  cttfaer  &»■  n/nirf, 
£doib  ths  »sie  hmiMr  aad  glof^  i'  p 
H  Lov*  uud  WBT,  dkencfo*.  ta  wb>d  yrrfcip  «e  am  add  fbe 
bofiiw  Bad  Cmh  fluggMted  lij  ■nmWiliiM,  ■ill  ■fliiiil  IIm  rml 
tbemtM  (or  tlie  effitits  of  uuhot  bngiwy;  aad  m  mrj  1>»- 
giuge  mutt  be  aamntmnA  eS  Mindi  Tvyiaa;  in  qaaati^,  er  is 
Acfifiot,  Of  f ■f'Hf*f'V"  of  MlliliiiMliiiii,  or  ianlaBmaAtUla  into 
|wuaea  by  the  reouireiue  of  rbjw,  «U  of  wfaidi  eipadiwite 
afibrd  tl«B  nwwuuf  fixing  a  Mne»ot  Aott  Mntenoea  in  die 
ineiUDiy,  it  is  not  euty  to  eonceive  a  nation  which  does  not 
foateae  mmm  rudimenU  of  poetry.  Vene,  therefore,  is  ant&- 
rior  to  proie,  becaiue  our  poawHU  are  nnterior  to  reaaoa  and 
judgment;  because  vocal  sounds  are  the  natural  expreesioni 
of  emotion,  not  of  reflection;  and  because  the  aiutljsiB  of 
tbouglit  is  the  result  of  long  abstraction.  It  is  Irue  that  the 
pMt,  during  the  progreat  of  oJviliaition.  mny  usiM  in  pro- 
noUog  not  ouly  tbe  beauty  but  the  aoouracj'  of  language,  by 
the  vivid  illustration  of  metaphor,  and  by  nice  distinotiona  in 
the  shades  of  expresiioa :  but  admitting  that  aneh  a  poetical 

r'  :it  is  tu  be  ftiuud  in  the  Danish  Scalds,  it  does  not  Mknr 
t  it  was  or  ooutd  be  tisnsmitted  to  the  Nonnan  minBtnJa. 
It  must  be  remembered  that  the  Romanoe  tongue  was,  in 
)!•  origin,  a  ouiruptirai  of  the  Latin,  and  required  notilung 
more  fur  the  purpose  of  adapting  it  to  every  speeies  <tf  CMnpo- 
sitton  than  a  nearer  tuuimilution  to  it*  parent  kngm^,  iriut^ 
from  fi'equent  una  in  the  most  &miUar  intenooiBe  of  letters, 
W  well  as  in  all  legal  vontraets.  had  gradually  adt^ited  a 
gnunnwi  perieotly  aiudogous  to  that  uf  the  wUoqnial  dialecte 
uf  Suix^ie.  We  should  tberafore  expect  to  aee  utis  impRnve- 
ment,  so  soon  as  the  kaised,  that  is  to  Mr,  the  clergy.  dMnU 
Ikui  ihamselves  intereated  in  «qpening  to  ue  iUitraate,  thuMgh 
the  medium  of  the  vulgar  tongwc.  mse  atnce  ti  literattBe  to 
wluoh  they  alooe  bad  access.  Now  it  is  difficult  to  inagiBC  a 
oonoiureuue  of  oiieuauteaees  aore  likely  to  excite  thiA  inte- 
rest, than  that  «hi«h  took  pinoe  towai^  te  doae  of  Ob 
ul^venth  and  the  rraiMnwitnawl  of  te  twelfQi  eentnry.  " 
was  thiju  Uut  Uw  u    ' 


uL,  Cookie 


^ 


HISTOKT  at  KUmSSLST.  11 

vailed  aa>BDK  the  Nonnam,  aui  hai  flarriad,  in  1064,  a  ba^ 
of  aaveoty  Ihoiiinl  fiuatiis  into  the  Hgl;r'  Ijand,  beoame  ^i- 
daaiinal  tiutoa^ttnit  Europe,  and  produced  the  fiat  onnde 
(in  1096),  wluc^  1^  ]  Jar  ai^,  a  Omatian  prinae  on  die  tkrane 
of  JenMuem,  led  ne  w^  to  a  kng  sneeeawm  of  dnae  hofy 

Wkatenc  m^  kare  liean  Hie  i 
tLe  Hennit,  and  aAenraida  bf  E' 

of  fnthnaiMai  1  irtudi  waa,  in  vhumB  i^B)  h  mii.njMiti.mi  ■» 
-QtB  dnnoh,  k  km  evideaflf  inportapt  dial  die  olog^  im 
general  ahonld  be  *— "J***— ^  widi  ifae  meaaa  c£  eBlbreuig,  as 
iriddjr  as  paaaihle,  the  i      ' 


*— ^T-ialrlr  tn  narigii.  Tnthmit  an]-  airtt'Tr'j.  ^~  i 

idaas  rf  men,  tbe  anteziar  inventioai  of  hvAm  of  fiotkn;  ■ 
^leoiea  of  ccxnpoaition  -miach  mar  ^  teniMd  the  luxoiy  <t 
litecabiK,  a«aa%  grewing  out  of  and  iodieating  a  laige  pre- 
a  stock  at  neoeaaaiy  and  useful  Jeaming. 


33ie  ibHowii^  may  peiltqM  be  oeeepted  la  a  tokrable  s 
iBai7  of  the  hirtoiy  M  the  nunstrela.  b  i^qiean  likely 
th^  were  canied  by  Bi^  mto  France,  iriKre  they  probab^ 


intavduoed  a  certain  mouber  of  dieir  native  tiaditicBu;  dioae, 
fir  iaatanoe,  rdating  to  Ogier  le  Dtnoia,  and  othn*  nordtOB 
heroes,  who  were  afterwBzds  enlisted  into  the  tales  of  chivalry; 
bnt  that,  beJDg  deprived  of  die  mythology  of  their  original 
zeli^ioD,  and  cramped  periu^  as  wdl  hy  the  sober  spirit  of 
''''™'^~-^*-',  as  b^  tbe  inmetActaoD  of  a  language  iriiaaetaai^ 
tedy  im^iplioule  to  tlie  snUime  obeDurity  at  their 
,  they  were  oU^ed  to  ado^  Tarions  modea  of 
to  nnite  the  talents  of  the  mimio  and  the  jugderi 
BtioD  fitr  the  defects  of  the  muairian  and  poet. 
H>eir  musieal  skill,  bowerer,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
iiuiahi  I  of  their  inalruiueBts,  at  which  very  fonnidable  cata- 
lagnea  are  to  be  fonnd  in  evety  deaeripljon  of  a  royal  ffeatival, 
naj  not  liava  been  oontamptibTB;   and  their  poetry,  evn 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


IHTSODHOTIOV. 


though  confined  to  short  compondcnu,  was  not  lilcely  to  be 
void  of  intereet  to  Hieir  heiiren,  while  employed  on  the  topics 
of  fl&ttery  or  satire,  llieir  Tcwards  were  certainly,  in  some 
I,  and  ptore  the  esteem  'm  which  thej 


after  amusement,  and  the  difScnl^  experienced  b^  the  great 
in  dissipating  the  tediousness  of  life ;  so  diat  the  gift  of  three 
parishes  in  GloucesteiBhire,  easigned  by  William  the  Con- 
queror for  the  support  of  his  joetuator,  may  perhaps  be  a  less 
accurate  measure  of  the  minstrel's  accomplishmenta  than  of 
the  monor^'s  power  and  of  the  insipidity  of  his  court. 

To  the  talents  already  enumerated  the  minstrels  added, 
soon  afl«r  the  birth  of  French  literattire,  the  important  occu- 
pation of  the  tUteur  or  dtdaimw.  Perhaps  the  declamation  of 
metrical  compositions  might  havo  required,  during  their  first 
state  of  imperfection,  some  hind  of  uiant,  and  even  the  assis- 
tance of  some  musical  instruments,  to  supply  the  defidendea 
of  the  measure;  perhaps  the  aids  of  gesture  and  pantomime* 
majT  have  been  necessary  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  a  long 
recitation;  but  at  all  events  it  is  evident,  that  an  author  who 
wrote  for  the  public  at  large,  during  the  eleventh,  twelfth,  and 
thirteenth  centuries,  was  not  lees  dependent  for  his  success  on 
the  minstrels,  than  a  modem  writer  of  tragedy  or  comedy  on 
the  players  of  the  present  day.  A  copyist  might  multiply 
manuscripts  for  Che  supply  <a  convent-libraries ;  but  while 
ecdesiasbcs  alone  were  able  to  read,  there  was  no  access  to 
the  ears  of  a  military  nobility,  without  the  intervention  of  a 
body  of  men  who  travelled  in  every  direction,  and  wbo  were 
evcr]'wbere  welcomed  as  the  promoters  of  mirth  and  convi- 
viality. 

The  next  step  was  easy.  Being  compelled  to  a  frequent 
exerdse  of  their  talent  in  extemporaneous  compositions,  the 
minstrels  were  probably,  like  the  improvimton  ot  Italy,  at 
least  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  more  learned  writers,  in  the 
merely  mechanical  potts  of  poetry;  they  were  also  better 
judges  of  the  public  taste.  By  the  progress  of  translation  they 
De<»me  the  depositaries  of  neariy  all  the  Imowledge  of  the  age, 

*  The  minstrels  are  not  anfreqncDtl;  railed  •ainB.  Ordericn*  Vitilk, 
describing  ■  coDtemponjy  ehuacter,  uys,  "  Krat  eniB  in  niilUJa  promp- 
tu,  in  dswlo  nimii  pnidigni,  gaoJeiu  Indii  M  lonbiUi  Misdt,  tfmU,  *t 
Cffiihu^  aJiu^ac  ti^iumodi  tanlatiiia."  p.  EiVS. 


j,,..;uL,  Cookie 


HIBTOST   OT  XHTBTaSUT.  IS 

which  was  committed  b>  their  memory;  it  was  nstura),  tfaere- 
6m,  IliAt  Uief  should  !ana  a  variety  of  new  oombinatioiis 
fitim  tiie  nnmerous  materials  in  their  poaaemion;  and  it  wiQ 
be  ahown  hereafter,  that  many  of  our  moet  popniar  romances 
were  moat  probablj  brought  l^  their  efibrta  to  the  state  in 
which  we  now  see  them.  This  was  the  moat  splendid  tera  of 
tbeir  historr,  and  seems  to  have  comprehended  the  hitter  part  ^ 
f^  the  twel^  and  perhaps  the  whole  of  the  thirteenth  century. 
After  that  time,  frmn  the  general  progress  of  instruction,  the 
nnmber  of  readers  began  to  increase;  and  the  metrical 
lomancea  were  insensibfy  supplanted  by  romances  in  prose, 
whose  monotony  neither  rcqmred  nor  could  derive  much  bsob- 
tancc  &om  the  art  of  declamation,  fhe  visits  of  the  minstrels 
had  'been  only  periodical,  and  generally  confined  to  the  great 
festivals  of  the  year;  but  the  rceources,  such  as  they  were,  of 
the  paoderous  proae-legend  were  always  aceeasible.  Thus 
began  the  decline  of  a  body  of  men,  whose  complete  degrada- 
tion seems  to  have  been  the  subsequent  result  of  their  own 
vices.  During  the  period  of  their  success,  they  had  most 
impudently  abased  the  credulity  of  the  public;  but  it  is  a 
vriiimaical  &ct,  that  the  same  &ble8  which  were  discredited 
while  in  verse,  were  again,  on  their  transfusion  into  prose, 
received  without  suspicion.  It  should  seem  that  &lsehood  is 
genmlly  ttife  from  detection,  when  concciled  under  a  mffi- 
cimt  ck»k  of  dulneea. 


giiizcdb,  Google 


SECTIOK  n. 


Tint  Bomanoa  moral*  Mabrtcil  Hiatoiui. — Origiii  of  Homutia  I^otiBB 
ucribcd  bj  Biihop  P«r(7'  to  the  Northern  Nitioni— br  Mr.  Wutoa  to 
tlM  Anbiuu — bj  othen  attribatcd  to  the  Celtic  Tribei  of  Armorio, 


Thk  opinitma  delirefed  is  the  preceding  seetion  would  per- 
hupB  require  fin  their  ccmfiriiiation  a  regular  anelysiB  of  the 
state  of  French  literature  during  the  latter  half  of  the  twttlfth 
century;  but  as  thk  has  been  accurately  made  by  Lb  Bavail- 
Ute*  and  the  Abbe  .de  la  Rue.f  it  will  be  snfficient  in  .this 
place  to  state,  that  nearly  all  the  romances  of  that  period 
which  Btill  exist,  comprehending  the  varioas  works  of  Wace, 
Benoit  de  St.  Uore,  .AJexandre  de  Paris,  aad  others  dted  by 
Fauchet,  profew  to  be  ohnxiideB  or  true  histories,  and  aze 
Imown  to  hare  been  toanflated  or  imitated  from  the  Latin. 
Tbus,  for  instance,  Wace's  Brut  was  a  venion  at  Qeoffirey  a£ 
Monmouth;  le  Roman  d"  Alexandre,  of  the  Vita  Alexandn  by 
GauticT  de  I'Tslc ;  Benoit's  Trojan  War  was  imitated  from 
Dictya  Cretensis  snd  others;  and  the  romances  respecting 
Charlemagne  are  perhape  copied,  in  part,  &om  the  Latin  Chro- 
uicle  of  the  imaginary  Tnrpm. 
I  The  mode  of  translation  adopted  by  dtese  early  romancers 
,  'was  indeed  rather  licentious,  as  they  were  satisfied  with 
'  -giving  the  substance  of  the  story  as  intelli^bly  as  they  could, 
reserring  to  themselves  the  liberty  of  contracting  what  they 
:thought  too  difl\ise,  of  omitting  what  they  considered  as  unne- 
cessary, and  of  enlarging  such  passages  as  appeared  moat 
important.  But  they  were  generally  attentive  to  the  style  of 
their  original,  and  seldom  lost  an  opportunity  of  enriching 

*  RsTol.  it  U  langDa  Tna^tiiae,  kc  pnfistd  to  *a  editiim  of  ttie 
Chmuoiu  da  Km  ie  Nmm. 
t  Sm  Ai^Kokfii,  vol.  xiL  pp.  SO  nd  297. 


„i.2cjb,  Google 


3SM»TM  AKl  irUIZ.  IS 

uvBi  vraik  Dy  m  ont  vnxtitiofi  of  vu  itavt  gmdy  hb 
■plendid  desmptiMis  irhich  they  fbimd  in  their  my;  »  tkit 
it  iro^d  often  he  eaiy  to  tnwe  tteni,  vrea  in  IknT  uwuMila 
tuBi,  by  a  eoa^nMa  of  te  iCjIe  of  d»  Lalia  antiHmraani 
they  enwolted.  For  matanae,  M.  de  h  Rne,  ■peaking-  at 
Bencit,  Mya,  "Hw  antfaw  sAen  ^rwaiti  a  witb  omtain  tana 
md  hwigea  whiefa  an  touly  poetuid.  Of  1hi>  an  idea  mn  be 
fivmed  ^faiadeaciiptiaaof  ipring,  attl»begmBiB9of  much 
RoDo  quitted  England -for  Nenstria- 

Qnant  li  iven  fii  tif^iatBeT, 

Vint  li  dnla  ten,  e  h  eatci ; 

Venta  I'asie  Boere  et  qnoiet 

Chanta  li  meilei  et  la  tteia;  > 

B<Ha  reTCtdirest  e  preal, 

£  g«nt  fioriient  li  ramel ; 

Punt  la  row  ^yaea  eima, 

E-atlie  floca  de  aiaint  — °.m™  "♦ 

Now  Dndo  of  St.  Quenlin,  in  relating  the  tane  are^ 
TOC&ces  bis  account  by  a  description  veiy  neatdy  aimSar. 
HIa  words  are :  "  Com  antem  prime  satatia  tempofe,  ratilaiu 
tinni  moUiter  florum  Birideict  oopia,  purpoFeuque  blattii 
lactea  et  odorifera  albermt  lilia,  mfimor  aen^er  viaioiiia 
monentis  ad  Fianciam  profidact,  [Bollo]  irlanaihnB  relia  dali^ 
narem  coii»cendit."j- 

It  m^  perhapa  be  pnqter  to  ohaerro  in  this  place,  that 
aanimg  ^e  poems  attcibuted  to  Wace  by  the  Ahb^de  la  fiae 
IB  one  (le  ChevaCer  an  Lion)  which  iSj.  Bitson  pnHunmoes  to 
be  tiie  original.of  Tvaii.  ami  Qawain.  If  thia  be  true.t  as  it 
aboanda  with  an  unusual  nambeE  of  marrelkma  adventiuea, 
dum^  itB  acttoa  be  peraonagea  who  w«re  Ibnneriy  auppoaad 
to  beloi^  to  real  hiatozy,  it  may  perh^  be  conaidmed  aa 
bdooging  to  an  intennodiale  claaa  between  the  earliest,  which 
m^be  called  the  Tii«fa»n'Hil  icnuBGea,  and  the  pm^  mm- 


e  li  oomctlf  nqipoMi!  try  hodiet  to  km*  Ihbi  writing 
ty  GhnMm  dB  Tmjet.  The  wna  poet  ii  nid  to  hire  ooiDpond  tha 
S«pM,  «h»Chiirihiirap<»(th»«nfcafalapwbri)ly«wW»to),  I* 
Cknlta,an.    Ua  toAM  lAoM:  UN. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


16  IKTSODDCIIOH. 

lout  nmuuteea  otn^oeed  by  the  minstrela  in  the  thirteenth 
centmy. 

HaTioff  thus  fkr  attempted  to  trace  the  pn^resa  of 
<oinance4ite»ture  in  genenL,  we  ma;  now  proceed  to  inquire 
toore  puticulaily  into  that  clasa  of  compoeitiona  which  hoa 
fitmished  to  the  Italians  a  new  and  aplendid  species  of  epic 
poetry,  and  which  afforded,  even  in  tlie  ruder  hands  of  our 
Norman  ancestors,  many  ingenious  attempts  at  scMnething  like 
an  epic  &blfi. 

Various  theories  have  been  proposed  tor  the  purpose  of 
explaining  the  origin  of  romantic  fiction,  which  has  been  sac- 
ceaaively  ascribed  to  the  Scandinavians,  to  the  Arabians,  and 
to  the  Armoricans,  while  some  authors  have  supposed  it  to  be 
of  Froven^al,  and  others  of  Norman  invention.  Bishop  Percy, 
to  whose  elegant  taste  we  arc  indebted  for  the  "  Rctiques  of 
Andent  En^h  Poetry,"  the  most  agreeable  selection,  per- 
haps, which  exists  in  any  language,  hiis  prefixed  to  his  third 
TMiune  a  short  but  masterly  dissertadon,  in  which  he  assigns 
to  the  Scalds  the  honour  of  having  produced  the  earliest  spe- 
cimens in  this  mode  of  composition.  He  observes  that  these 
poets,  the  bistoriane  of  the  north,  us  the  Bards  were  of  Qtiul 
and  Britain,  continued  for  a  time  the  fiuthfhl  depodtoricB 
of  their  domestic  annals;  but  that  at  a  subsequent  period, 
when  history  was  consigned  to  plain  prose,  th^  gradually 
attempted  to  "  set  off  their  recitals  by  such  marvellous  fictions 
OS  were  calculated  to  captivate  groea  and  ignorant  minds,' 
Hius  bwan  stories  of  adventures  with  giants,  and  dragons, 
and  wittSies,  and  enchanters,  and  all  the  monstfons  extrava- 
gances of  wild  imae;inatIon,  unguided  by  judgment  and  uncor- 
rected by  art."  He  contends  that  the  vital  spirit  of  chivalry, 
its  tmthusiastia  valour,  its  love  of  adventure,  and  its  extra- 
<ragant  courtesy,  ore  to  be  found  in  the  Scaldic  songs ;  that 
theee  characteristic  qualities  existed  in  the  manners  of  the 
northeni  nations  long  before  the  establishment  of  knighthood 
tm  a  T^nlor  order ;  that  the  superstitions  opinions  c^  these 
people,  respecting  fiiiries  and  other  preternatural  beings,  were 
extremely  analogous  to  the  later  fictions  of  romance ;  that  the 
migiation  of  a  certain  number  of  Scalds  into  France,  as  attend- 
ants on  Bollo's  army,  is  at  least  extremely  probable;  and 
that,  since  the  first  mention  of  the  stories  of  t^valry  occurs 
in  the  song  of  a  Nonum  minstrel  at  the  battle  of  I 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


oBioiN  or  soiuimo  ricnow.  17 

this  filiation  of  romance  is  eqnaDy  canvaout  to  Initoty  utd  to 
pmhaialitj. 

The  only  rational  objection,  perhapa,  which  can  be  adduced 
against  this  system  is,  that  it  is  too  focclosiTe.  Tite  Hittorj 
M-Chariemagne,  it  is  true,  qipears  to  faave  been  very  etuAy  in 
&Tonr  with  the  Normans,  beonue  the  song  of  Rollo  oertainlj, 
and  that  of  St.  William  very  possibly,  were  antetiw  to  the 
conqnest;  and  it  is  ako  likely  that  these  and  other  frscmenta 
of  traditional  poetry  may  have  ctmtiibnted  the  principM  mate- 
rials of  those  longer  works  whidi,  at  a  much  later  period, 
filmed  the  r^fular  romances  of  Renaud  de  Montanfaan,  Fi^ 
rslvafl,  Otuel,  Ferragfos,  and  the  other  heroes  of  Charlemagne. 
But  this  does  not  account  for  the  mnch  more  numerous  and 
pc^mlar  fictions  concerning  Arthur  and  his  kni^ts,  iriiich 
ocGimy  not  only  so  many  of  the  romances,  but  also  of  the  lays 
and  &bliauz,  of  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries,  and  are 
evidently  derired,  as  the  learned  editor  veiT  candidly  scknow- 
ledgea,  from  a  difierent  source.  Besides,  uou^  the  manners 
of  chivahy,  as  exhibited  in  the  Ktdands  and  Olivers,  are 
otnuorai  to  the  Lanncelots  and  Tristnuns,  nothing  can  be 
nunc  opposite  than  Ae  morals  of  the  hercnnee;  and  the  frail- 
ties of  an  Yseult  or  a  Guencrer  a&brd  a  lamentable  contrast 
to  the  severe  chastity  of  a  northern  beanty.  But  surely,  in 
surveying  a  system  of  fictions  in  «^ch  love  and  war  are  the 
chief  agents,  it  is  imposnble  to  abstract  our  attraktion  alto- 
gether from  the  delineations  of  female  character. 

We  must  confess,  however,  that  Bishop  Percy  has  birlf 
traced  aae  class  of  romantic  fictions  to  the  traditional  songs 
of  the  Norman  minstrels.  These  songs,  as  it  is  suj^tosed,  ara 
now  lost;  bnt  it  is  not  impossible  that  some  of  thrat  may  yet 
be  detected  amoi^  the  very  miscellaneous  contents  of  our 
eariy  mannaeripts.  Le  Orand  has  prefixed  to  the  &bliati  o[ 
"Les  trois  Chevaliers  et  la  Chemise,"  a  fragment  which 
breathes  the  genuine  spirit  of  the  Gothic  odes;  and  which, 
whether  it  be  an  original  or  translated  from  some  northern 
saga,  evinces  that  the  Normans  continued  to  preserve,  during 
at  least  two  centuries,  a  fondness  for  the  peculiar  poetry  of 
their  anceeton.  The  fragment  here  alluded  to  has  been  trana- 
Ltted  by  Way  under  the  title  of  "The  Gentle  Bachelor." 

The  second  hypothesis  has  been  adopted  by  Warton,  who, 
not   contented  with   referring  to    the  Arabians  the  many 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


jxTBODVonoa. 


lluinpw  in  Ritt«p««i  mMaacn  wliich  to<dc  place  aboiit  the  tnne 
of  tliii  (trUMwlinti  hw  sUcmpted,  in  a  long  and  laboured  d' 


banged  at  a  muoh  au^ier  period,  by  tlieir  oonqoMt 
0f  Kpain  in  tlie  aiffhtlt  crnitarj.  lie  mtpposea  that  tlieir  qi- 
nfam*  found  an  enUy  into  Kranoo  through  tiic  ports  of  Toulon 
rM  MarwillMi,  whence  they  trarellcd  (probably  by  land)  into 
IbU}'.  In  the  latuo  manner  they  might  get  to  Britauy,  thou^ 
aflor  a  long  journey,  and  being  rcocivM  with  peculiar  kind- 
BMi  in  that  provinoo,  would  moL  an  easy  passage  to  Wales. 

It  la  unncmnwary  to  oxamine  at  any  length  the  merits  of 
K  thiory,  of  which  the  nibatance  has  been  ably  refuted  by 
iliahap  I'nvy  In  the  later  editions  of  his  essay.  Yet,  alUiou^ 
Warton  has  oarritxl  to  iia  oxtTavagaut  lenrth  the  supposed 
luftumtm  of  Arabian  invention,  and  though  he  is  often  mialed 
tiy  flinoiI\il  analogict,  we  muat  not  infer,  with  a  modem 
prttie.*  that  his  omnioaa  arc  totally  unfounded.  If  Oerbral 
(afterward*  Popt*  Hylvoatrr  II.)  introduced  the  Arabic  nume- 
mIm  into  l<Viui(>o,  at  least  a  century  before  the  crusades,  and, 
liavlnit  by  hi«  wonderfy  skill  in  meohanios,  acquired  in  Spain, 
min]HMm  a  eWk,  waa  therflbre  considered  as  a  magician;  if 
Jwdlnlal  Mtmtofry,  a  urienoe  of  Arabian  inventioQ.  was  about 
lk«  «amt>  linw  ui'ncrally  disaemiaated  through  Europe;  if  the 
finu'tin'  of  mnlii'inp,  to  whioh  we  haTc  so  many  oiluBioiia  in 
mw  nur);  ramnnpra,  W«s  wcduaivcly  taught  in  the  Soraoen 
■•ohoitli>, — it  nuinot  be  obaiud  to  ouppooe  that  the  opinioDB  aitd 
iw^udirm  nf  mankind  won  ronsidenbly  modified  by  dtese 
actmrm :  thai  th<>>-  may  ha^-f  had  aome  influcnoe  on  litoabm 
M  wvll  OK  nn  maiuiom:  and  thai  the  innovations  in  both  woe 
mtcnnr  tm  the  cTWWiko.  llic  fii«t  of  theeo  fanatical  e^ie- 
dittttMa  wan  undcrtakvn.  not  ajiainst  the  Arabian  calib,  but 
•IpttMM  tWTtimMtnan  umrpersof  th«irantborit>-;  and  so  hmg 
MB  tttp  iVnitvmbnis  <tf  Mohontct  retained  dtcir  power,  the  com- 
IwwvmI  n«  vrll  «e  th«'  dcxvtMn^  intrrcounie  betwc«i  Europe 
wwl  iW  SomoNX  iWti&MM  w«»  mrr  and  iutiiinTupi<?d.  Such 
OM  MKH'CrtWT«i>  kw  »!tM*l)T  «i»ne  c&<i  od  the  manncTS  of  men. 
IV«4M)Wiv  t>i<RV  it  wnwM  be  ma  dM^porageaant  m  ihr  Icamed 
yt*<iwwiTn  ttf  mntirtwcv  who  w«re  principally  Jews,  to  eoa- 
ytHMK  tibal   tlK-T  BMf^ta   h*iv   KMpkmd   aomie   ini^rals  of 

•  "^11  Tnin'-  •"'mnifiiii  liBi— iiiMlirMgulij.nwa 


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oaieiiT  or  soiuimc  ncnoir.  19 

aererar  atady  ia  acqniriiig,  and  migfal  ooouumsllf  aaoQx  tiib 
^atrtn  of  their  patients  by  inciting,  Aiabitin  tales  of  amnsB- 
KHtd.  A  coUectioa  of  nicli  taks,  we  know,  compiled  bj 
Potnu  Alfansos,  a  conrerted  Jew,*  was  puUished  in  I«tiB 
m^er  tbe  title  of  "  Cleriealia  DiBdplina,"  earty  in  tbe  twelflk 
ocntmy,  and  tmnelated,  perinps  about  the  dom  at  the  Nine 
matyij.  wider  the  ti^  ^  " Le  Caatoiement  d'nn  P^  i.  am 
Pili;"  and  it  is  by  no  meanB  iniRDbable  that  manj  men 
fiifalWDxt  may  have  been  bomnred  from  the  game  nation. 

Hie  third  hypothena,  whidi  wmpoaea  Britany  to  be  th6 
native  connby  of  romantic  fiction,  naa  been,  wi&  some  modi- 
fiiMtiona,  adopted  by  Leyden  in  hia  very  aMe  Intndnetun 
to  &e  "  Complaynt  of  Scotland ; "  and  baB  the  advantage  of 
being  fne  from  the  objections  whidt  have  been  made  to  dte 
pmeading  theoriee.  fianilarity  of  kngoage  proves  the  similar 
origin  of  the  ArmoricBoa,  and  of  the  natiree  of  this  idamd; 
and  tite  firitiA  biatoTiana,  anch  aa  they  are,  affirm  that  a  large 
colooj  of  fngitivee  from  Baxon  tyranny  took  rdiige  in  Britai^, 
and  eanied  with  them  audi  of  Uieir  archivea  aa  had  caeapad 
the  fiirj  irf  thnr  cmqnenKa.  The  Nonnan  poeta  themaema 
frequently  profev  to  have  derived  their  atariee  from  a  Breton 
aaiginal^  and  their  poarbve  ^^linwiwy  aeema  anmcient  to  prow 
that  tlie  memory  of  Arthur  and  hia  la)^;hta  Has  preserved  in 
Aimcnics  no  leas  than  in  Wales  and  Cornwall.  With  reaped 
to  tfae  talra  of  (%atlemagiie  and  hia  imaginary  peen,  mdeaa 
we  a^ipoae  them  to  have  been  imported  by  the  Nomians  froB 

*  See  Appendix,  No.  I. 

t  ^le  -word!  rmuM,  fiHint 
\fVietAA  YnaA  wntcn,  IfaM 

In-  iliHT*—™**™C  bdaeoi  them.  Bnt  I  beUeve  tliaC  tbe  word  rwima 
fMtieolari;  appliea  to  ndi  woiki  ai  were  nppa«d  to  be  ctiicdy  hi*to- 
tlaaL  Sudi  are  the  nmuncea  of  Arthor,  Qwrlenugtie.  AleiaDds-,  Tte 
n^qanWar,  &c.  Tbe^Uioiw  were  gcnenUf  atones  sappoaed  to  have 
been  invented  for  the  purpoae  of  fllutiating  aome  moral ;  or  ml  mec- 
ANea  capable  of  bdi^  n  applied.  Tie  lot,  aeoording  to  Le  Gtnnd, 
(UcAy  diffend  from  the  faUiani,  ia  baing  intaraperHd  with  raiuical  iote^ 
lodea;  bnt  I  antpect  that  tfaaj  ««K  geBMallf  tnuialationi  fnnii  the  Britidl. 
He  word  ii  aaid  to  be  derived  fern  iMifat;  bU  Uei  Keina  to  be  Om 
Rnaial  name  of  a  daai  of  Iiidi  metrieal  eompoaitiinu,  ai  "  l^m  aa 
SeOge  "  and  odwn,  qnoted  b;  Walker  (Hilt  Mem.  of  Iruh  Bard*),  and 
it  aiar  be  doabtad  wtwOer  the  void  mi  not  fonnarir  common  to  tfaa 

0  2 

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aO  tirrtosroiioir. 

fiaandinftTi^  we  miut  refer  diem  to  Britanj;  because  the 
Bretotu  wero  the  first  people  of  Fnuioe  with  whom  the  Nor- 
nuiu  hod  any  friendly  intetcoune,  their  province  having  been 
nttAohcd  u  ft  sort  of  fief  to  Normandy  at  the  first  setttement 
of  thnt  duch^  under  Rollo.  It  is  not  improbable,  as  I  have 
klrendy  mcntionod,  that  a  mutual  exchange  of  traditionH  may 
have  introduoed  Ogier  and  other  Danish  heroes  to  Uie  court 
of  Charlemagne;  and  perhaps  a  similar  commerce  between 
the  bards  of  Wales  and  Britany  may  have  given  to  Arthur  his 
Kir  Launoelot  and  other  French  worthies.  The  supposititm 
that  tome  traditional  anecdotes  oonccming  these  two  princes 
of  romnnco  were  already  current  among  the  Normans,  would 
explain  the  fiuility  with  which  the  very  sospicions  chnmiclea 
of  OraflVcy  and  Tuipin  were  received,  and  the  numerous 
ampliflcations  bv  which  they  were,  after  their  translation  into 
l^Wnch,  almost  immediately  embclUi^ed. 

The  render  will  perceive  that  the  preceding  systems  are  hf 
no  means  incompatible,  and  that  thm  is  no  alwirdity  in  mp- 
poaing  that  the  scenes  and  characters  vt  our  romantic  histtHies 
w«rc  very  generally,  though  not  exclusively,  derived  from  Ae 
Breton*,  or  ftam  the  Welsh  of  this  idaad;  Aat  much  of  the 
cokmring,  and  pcriiapa  sobm  parttcnlor  adTaitnns,  may  be  of 
Krandinavian  origin;  and  that  occaaonal  qiisodes,  together 
Mrilh  part  of  the  waehinery.  may  have  been  borrowed  tm  tbe 
Arabians.  In  &ct.  there  is  reoaoa  to  believe  that  critiea,  in 
Iheir  survey  of  Oodiic  literature,  as  wdl  as  of  Gothic  aiehi- 
teetiut>,  have  too  kastitv  bad  recotme  to  a  sin^  l^^mthesis, 
for  the  purpose  of  esphiuing  the  probable  origin  of  fonns 
and  proportioiM  whia^  i^^ieuvd  unusoal,  and  of  otnamenls 
whieli  wrre  thought  to  arise  frtnu  a  wild  and  capncioas  haej: 
and  ID  both  oatKH  it  will  perhaps  be  faand  tlat  invvntion  is 
often  nothing  mow  than  amdental  awoeiatioB,  and  that  what 
has  boeti  atttibntcd  to  originality  of  design,  was  only  the 
rr-mU  of  an  awlnrard  atMnpt  to  cambme  ineongrwrns  mate- 
rials. 1W  first  writers  of  nmaace  wcie  ctqivists  and  trans- 
UtorSi  the  frmnwra,  ifaor  amnesson.  as  the  name  litoalhr 
imnlini,  wnv  simply  _Mtn.  and  ned  all  that  they  fboad, 
wimoot  (wrim;  wh»oe  it  was  giMoed,  or  much  tmnbling 
lhc«M4v«!i  aboM  dw  lasnal  leoraints  of  dotwok^  «-  geo- 
graphy, Hua  thcoiy,  ^Krdine.  whidi  is  the  most  gom- 
IxroHwi'n.  tmi  wUcJi  fhnwcs  all  the  xrenan  of  inftraa. 


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XKOLISH  OBiailT  OF  EAKLT  TSZSCB   aOKAHCES.      21 

timi  to  which  the  writen  of  the  twelfth  oenturj  can  be  sop* 
poaed  to  hare  had  accees,  has,  00  &r,  the  greateat  appearance 
(^probability. 

But  before  we  adopt  this  or  any  other  hypothesis,  it  will  be 
proper  to  satisfy  ourselves  respecting  the  country  which  pn»> 
dnced  the  first  romances ;  because  the  materials  employed  in 
their  coostruddon  are  likely  to  have  depended  very  mnd  <mi 
the  feelings  and  prejudices  of  the  persons  who  used  them. 

It  is  certainly  natural  to  assume,  in  the  first  instance,  that 
whatever  is  French  must  have  been  written  in  France ;  but 
■Dcb  an  assuraption  with  respect  to  the  period  which  has 
hitherto  engaged  our  attention,  when  the  same  language  was 
spoken  at  the  courts  of  Paris  and  London,  would  he  rety 
problematical  without  the  support  of  some  direct  evidence. 
We  know  that  Alexandre  de  Bemay,  a  Norman,  wrote  at 
Paris ;  but  that  Benoit,  who  prides  himself  on  being  a  F^-ench- 
man,  wrote  in  England:  we  know  also,  from  the  confeesion  ot 
the  poets  thems^ves,  that  profit  was,  at  least  as  much  as 
&me,  the  object  of  their  pursuit;  and  it  is  reasonable  to  con- 
clude that  writers  flocked  in  greatest  number  to  the  court 
where  they  were  most  in  request,  and  were  likely  to  be  mort 
liberally  rewarded.  Now  it  is  evident  that  the  Dukes  of  Nor- 
mandy, when  possessed  of  the  crown  of  England,  were  incfflo- 
paniluy  more  wealthy,  thou^  not  in  the  tame  proportion 
more  powertnl,  than  the  contemporary  Kings  of  France;  and 
it  may  be  presumed  that  the  crowd  of  candidates  tor  Ihetr 
patron^e  was,  ccoisequentlv,  mnch  more  numerous.  Oar 
Henry  the  Semnd  pooacaap^  in  ri^t  of  his  fether,  Maine, 
Anjoo,  and  Touiaine ;  in  right  of  his  wife  Eleanor,  divorced 
by  Louis  le  Jeune,  the  countries  of  Poitoa  and  Gnlenne ;  in 
n^t  of  his  mother  M'tJ^'^B.  Normandy  and  PinglmiH ;  and  bis 
power  in  the  latter,  the  most  valnaUe  part  of  his  dominiona, 
was  paramoont  and  nncontiolkd,  while  Lonis  was  snrroanded 
by  powerjiil  and  rinl  vaasals.  We  are  therefore  jaeti£ed  in' 
BQ^iecting  that  the  courts  of  our  Norman  soTereigns,  rather 
than  those  of  the  kings  of  France,  produced  t^  birth  of 
toroaace  literature;  and  this  suspicion  is  confirmed  by  the, 
testimony  of  three  French  writers,  whose  anthority  is  the 
more  concInsiTe,  because  they  have  fbrmed  their  t^iinion  from 
•epantte  and  independent  premises. 

Tbe  first  (tfOi^  iBU.de  la  KaTailUre.     In  lus  Essay  on 

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32  unwa>vcTioTi. 

the  Rerolntions  of  the  French  Language,  a  «ork  of  consider-, 
able  leammg,  supported  by  ortginol  authorities,  whose  wcvda 
he  almost  constantly  quote§,  he  distinctly  asserts  that  the  pre- 
tanded  patronage  of  the  French  princes  anterior  to  Pbihppe 
Anguate  had  no  visible  e&ct  on  their  domestic  literature; 
that  while  HO  many  poet*  were  entertained  at  the  conrts  of 
the  Anglo-Norman  princes,  no  one  can  be  baced  to  that  of 
Louia  le  Jeune ;  that  the  chronicles  of  Britain  and  Normandy, 
tbe  nil^ecti  choeen  by  Wooe  and  his  contemporaries,  were 
not  likely  to  iniereit  the  French;  hut  that  "the  esteem  in 
which  the  kinga  of  England  held  the  Fi^&ch  language  was 
likely  to  be  aoon  communicated  to  the  Court  of  France."* 

The  second  authority  is  M.  le  Comte  de  IVcaaan,  a  writer 
perhaps  of  no  deep  research,  but  whose  good  taste  is  con- 
olusiTe  on  points  of  internal  evidenee.  In  his  pre&ce  to  the 
proae  romance  of  "La  Fleur  des  Batailles"  (one  of  those 
relating  to  Charlemagne)  he  says,  '"Hie  style  and  diaruter 
tf  these  romances  lead  us  to  think  that  they  were  compooed 
at  the  court  of  the  English  kings  descended  from  William  the 
Conqueror.  We  find,  in  those  of  the  round  table,  a  marked 
•fibotation  of  dwelling  on  every  thing  iriiich  can  ccmtrilivte 
to  the  glwy  of  tlie  throne  and  court  of  England,  whose  princes 
and  kmgfata  always  play  the  chief  and  most  brilUaBt  part  in 
fta  piece.  Indeed,  we  cannot  b^old  witboat  aoNie  santi- 
aients  of  indignation,  the  greatest  of  mankind  degtaded  fa 
bdow  tiw  rank  which  be  occupies  in  real  history.  CSwte- 
augne's  obaraoter  in  nuoanoe  is  atbea,  vwma^  ii  the  hero. 
We  see  him  afanoit  widtout  onlhori^iB  his  aavt,  «id  aaaMs 
to  tdra  a  sin^  step  without  the  eoaaent  of  his  twdre  pens. 
Yet  we  kam  btaa.  iiistorytiutt  Berer  was  prmee  more  sImd- 
Into  than  (^tariem^ae.  We  nunt  tbenfive  distmgtiiril,  m 
"mb  msumeee,  twodiftsmt  eras  as  veQ  aa  c^aetas:  the 
•tt  ia  diat  of  fhrnr  wyewVi'ow  m  Mrs*,  dnring  Ae  la^aaef 
r_'iL> — >|  aoeeeann,  priueee  always  iBtneeled  in  caabuff  a 
MTin  oitr  the  splendoar  ef  the  VnaA  coott  and  moiMialiy: 
■be  ssBBwrf  is  that  when  thcae  nnSRCca,  rednoed  to  psose, 
thaoxnina  nbaiitBBR  at  the  tnaarf 


4f- 


•  U^  rndrns  ij«B  In  Rob  d'AnsMsne,  ■■dtra  le  U  NarMadic 
Bisnt  de  nods  kana,  iat  tieatft  paao-  i  h  Cov  da  Ffbbc    TsL  t. 


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AVTBOtlTtta,  28 

their  refahricaiion." — ^Thirdly,  tbe  Abb4  de  la  Rue  may  be 
consid^ed  aa  having  proved  the  feet,  by  pointing  out,  in 
T^ngliali  history,  the  penons  to  whom  the  original  poems  were 
adi&eased.  Hia  three  diaaertations  on  the  Anglo-Norman 
poeta,  in  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  volumes  of  the  Archno- 
logia,  will  convince  the  reader  that  no  man  haa  studied  with 
more  attention  the  early  history  ftnd  poetry  of  France;  and 
he  has  given  it  as  hia  decided  opinion,  that  "tV  wai  Jrotn 
Engiand  attd  Normandy  thai  th»  French  rtemeed  thtfini  worA^ 
wAigA  dtterve  to  be  cited,  in  tieir  langvage." 

Having  thus  "narrowed  the  question,  by  removing  raany  of 
dte  eoUateial  difficnltiea,  we  may  now  proceed  in  our  investi- 
gation,  the  minnteness  and  proli^ty  of  which  it  is  hoped  the 
reader  will  pardon,  because  the  change  which  we  are  ende»> 
TCurii^  to  trace  was  ins^wible  at  the  time  of  its  taking  place, 
and,  being  therefora  incapable  of  receiving  direct  hietcnical 
-  eri^enee,  can  <aAj  be  ascertained  by  drenitoaa  reasooing.* 

*  Two  meHaoa  of  Effis*!  Introdnctioii  mn  bcra  onitled,  beenne  lh«r 
maAj  funuh  abilracta  af  ffildu,  Nmiist,  od  Geoffraj  of  Moiuililfc, 
trsnilKtiom  of  wbidi  are  indndsd  in  Bohn'i  A&tiqiMri*a  Ubmy.  Oa 
tte  MobfuX  oT  Geoflraj  of  Hanmouth,  the  Rider  taaj  lUo  rdar  to  >  papV 
br  Mr.  Wriglit  in  Oa  Anhtsitojia  for  IMS. 


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IMTaoDVCTIOtf. 


SECTION  ni. 


InqdrjrlBte  the  tItMa  of  WiIm  dnrinf  tha  alereoth,  twalfUi,  uid  tbir- 
MHth  CimtuflM.— IntliMM  ComwctkHi  betveea  tlu  Wdifa  and  Nor- 
nutM.'-Inllnanoa  at  Ihia  on  Romanea. — State  at  the  Welih  T]^i«s 
Wltbtn  (It*  HoMlUh  Bordm'.— Probability  tbiC  aome  original,  and  manj 
InnakUd  KomanoM,  w«re  tbe  work  of  Scottlah  Pocti.— Coacluaion. 

ArTiitivnii  (loofiVoy's  British  Chronicle  is  justl}'  regarded  as 
VHC  of  tlu>  ruracr-HtimcR  of  romontio  fiction,  yet  its  princi^, 
If  ti»l  wile  f  tliTt,  <mw  to  titainu  tho  nomca  of  Arthur,  Uenin, 
Knv,  and  Onwniit  with  tho  character  of  hiatoHcal  Tcndty; 
iHtl  tllUi  to  AuthoriiH.'  a  collection  of  aU  the  &ble«  alread; 
tnirmit  rv«|)«<f  tine  thcw  bnciM  heroes  and  their  companions. 
Vur  not  MW  wiira  is  to  ho  found  in  that  compilation,  concem- 
ixtif  Hir  LA\uicclot  and  hii>  brothers;  Sir  TristRtm;  ^  Ywain; 
J<Hii<)th  oT  Arimathea  and  the  Sangrcal;  the  round  table,  with 
its  iierikiu*  »oat  i  and  tho  various  quests  and  adrentuiee  iritich 
mi  *i>  ninny  n>livi  volume*.  Tb.v«i  were  suhaeqaent  additiMts, 
but  additiiuw  aiiparvntlv  derired  tma  the  same  «mroe.  Hie 
MlliM.  tk«  DMuners  of  the  hcrw«,  and  the  aoenea  <rf  tbeir 
•dx'vniuirik  vtvtv  still  British ;  and.  the  taste  for  these  stnnge 
Intdilnitw  cuntiuuatij^  to  fjun  ground  duiins  at  ksst  two  cest- 
(ww«v  i1m>  wWe  litviature  of  Gurope  was  iJtimaterr  mandated 
tw  tlw  Dimnr-tatca  of  Wain  aitd  AmarKW,  as  it  had  far- 


IHftf  bv«4i  bv  lh«  mydtolo^  of  Gr«e««  and  Egrpt- 

A«  this  i^MViNH  KTohitMM  IB  Uteraiy  taste  took  pboe  at  a 
IJMre  whvM  ttic  t'Viarie  langHafce  and  pe'^tle  woe  dnvcn,  both 
i«  Ibt*  Wbmd  aaxl  in  FVum».  to  the  wecura  extremities  of  tfae 


- _       _,    iofUw 

NvnwMk*  wntk  tlw  prM|4c  «f  tk<rt>;[»e.  amoog  abtn  tfan-  fint 
fcniK^  dww  kui(!ws$v<.  aa4  IboM  wiion  tbey  fwobablv  Rcchrd. 
ttwd  Wti^t  <M<rT  witk  tfett  to  'i-j*— ''  the  fint  tneea  wi 
ikiMW  UiaittMM  «Ucki  llM^r  aT "  '      ' "  '  - 


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UIQXriBT  IMTO  THli    BTATI   OF  WAI.E3,  S5 

state  among  the  Welah  of  this  island.  But  though  this  may 
be  fiurly  received  as  a  pUusible  and  hkelj  conjecture,  it  is 
worth  while  to  examine  whether  the  British  nation  was, 
during  the  twelfth  century,  so  insulated  and  insignificant  aa 
it  has  been  generally  represented;  or  whether  there  were 
some  circumstauces  in  its  political  situation  which  gave  to  it, 
in  the  eyes  of  the  Norman  conquerors  of  En^and,  a  d^ree  of 
importance  very  superior  to  that  which  ctwld  have  rnulted 
&om  the  contracted  state  of  its  territory. 

Unfortouately  there  is  not  one  of  our  popular  histories  of 
England  from  which  the  reader  could  derive  any  satu&ctory 
assistance  in  this  iDijuiry.  Indeed,  it  is  chiefly  to  the 
researches  of  YVliitakcr,  of  Qlbboo,  and  of  Turner,  that  we 
an  indebted  &x  a  istiiHial  account  of  the  a&irs  of  Britain 
during  the  Saxon  era;  after  which  we  are  again  left  in 
darkless,  having  no  guides  but  the  very  laconic  history  of 
(^ntdoc,  b^iether  wim  a  few  hints  from  the  Anglo-Norman 
writers  of  the  some  period.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  indus- 
tcions  editors  of  the  Welsh  Archteoli^  will  ultimately  supply 
ns  with  more  abundant  materials,  and  that  some  future  histo- 
rian may  be  enabled  to  form  a  more  satisfactory  narratiTe  of 
ev«it8  from  the  Norman  conquest  to  the  final  subjugation  of 
Wales  by  Edward  I.;'but  in  the  mean  time,  the  little  that 
can  be  gleaned  respecting  a  subject  hitherto  so  much  neglected, 
will  perhaps  be  thought  wOTth  collectii^.  A  few  abort 
Konants  on  the  antecedent  period  may  be  craivenient  to  some 
naders,  by  saving  them  the  trouble  of  a  reference  to  the 
IHtthorities  already  mentioned. 
-  It  has  been  generally  believed  that  the  Britons  became  inde- 
pendent of  Bcnme  about  the  year  410,  and  that,  when  aban- 
doned to  their  own  eSbrts,  thev  were  perJectly  equal  to  their 
own  protection,  so  long  as  they  continued  in  any  degree 
united.  Bat  the  thirty  municipal  governments,  into  which 
they  seem  to  have  been  divided,  were  little  calcinated  to  pro- 
mote nnanimity  of  council  or  of  action  in  a  people  always 
ready  to  split  into  Actions :  and  it  may  be  concluded  that  they 
soMi  relapsed  into  their  ancient  habits,  and  were  separated 
into  clans,  headed  by  ambitious  chieftains  alw^s  smuggling 
Trith  eadi  other  for  a  precarious  superiority.  The  succeasM 
iiinada  of  the  Soots  and  Ficts  seem  to  liave  tbrced  on  the 
Brittms  the  creadon  of  an  elective  dictator  oi  Pendragon,  an 


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36  zsTSODircTioTr. 

Meet  spparently  known  to  tiieir  eeriieat  ccinBtitntion ;  bat 
vben  this  dignity  aI«o  vrtm  seized  by  nsarpatioa,  the  wh<^ 
coontiy  was  plunged  into  irretrierBUe  anarchy.  Such  was 
ihe  state  of  tunga  at  the  first  airival  of  the  Saxons. 

Hengist,  whether  brought  to  oar  shores  by  accident  or  hy 
Invitation,  aoon  demanded  and  obtained,  as  the  reward  of  his 
aerrices,  an  independent  establishment,  which  he  afterwards 
oontitHied  to  maintain  and  increase  at  the  expense  of  the 
natives,  whom  his  arrogance  or  their  own  ficklencRS  provoked 
tn  hostilities.  Froai  tlus  period,  therefore,  the  isle  of  Thanet 
became  Saxon-land,  and  the  rest  of  the  country  WeUi-land; 
because,  as  Qiraldus  Cambrensis  has  justly  observed,  the 
Teutonic  nations  always  gave  to  the  Celtic  the  denominatimL 
of  Welsh.  Oar  island,  therefbre,  was  divided,  abont  &e 
niddle  of  the  fifth  century,  as  it  still  is,  into  two  parts,  one  of 
niiich  haa  constantly  continued  to  increase  at  the  expense  at 
the  other,  till  their  relative  extent  and  papnlatimi  have  been 
nearly  reversed. 

As  the  ultimate  soccess  of  the  Saxons  is  tmdeniable,  the 
ffrester  part  of  our  historians  have  neglected  to  notice  the 
downess  of  their  piogiees.  Tet  it  appears  that  the  west 
riding  of  YoAshire  was  not  completely  subdued  till  620,  nor 
TiiMtahire  tilt  670 ;  raoie  than  two  centuries  of  Uoody  war- 
tan  bod  therefore  elapsed  be£H«  the  invaders  were  able  to 
break  the  commumcation  between  the  Britons  of  Wales  and 
Hiose  of  Oumberiaod  and  Stnrtfacluyd.  Cadwallon,  who  whs 
killed  in  63 1 ,  and  irtio  is  said  to  have  Ibnght  against  the  Saxona 
no  less  than  fourtem  pitched  battles,  wm  apparency  the  last  of 
flie  Wdsh  princes  who  attempted  a  regiilar  contest  for  viclwy 
in  the  cnsn  SkM;  bat  they  still  eunliuiied  to  harass  dteir 
•■(■lieB  by  a  lon^  md  vcautiowi  onMsition,  adopting  ibe 
nme  mode  of  raastaaee  irtaA  wm  aflerwards  em^oyed  by 
tiw  Seoto  against  Edward  I. ;  avoiding  all  ^triied  batdes,  Irat 
povingdowa  fiom  &eir  UDs  with  sndden  and  amapcatpd 
violenee,  snd  wasting  Hw  Saxon  pronnecs  with  fieqnent  sod 
desnltacT  sttaaha.  The  exteiiaive  forests,  whidt  tlien  covered 
naa^  iU  tbe  hraghts  of  th«  midland  comitay,  insnied  a  retreat 
to  toa  naranding  naCivea«  and  snbided  pasturage  for  the 
nnmanaB  ilsdcB  ud  keiA  irindi  fcnaed  tneir  principal  nrb- 
■Bteaee,  and  fm-  the  smaB  bat  aetirc  bfeed  or  bones  wUeh 
farairiwd  a  ftsmidrijb  avafay .    Hm  Saxen  writcnj  poha^^ 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


WAI,EB  BVjaMQ  THB  UXOK   FEXIOD.  27 

hftTC  related  without  much  exnggenititm  sereral  czpeditioin 
intrhich  their  anmes  penetrated  into  theTeiy  heart  of 'Wales, 
waating  the  country  and  destiDying  the  citiea;  bnt  thonofa 
they  conceal  in.  Btndioua  lilence  their  own  lonea,  yet  us 
&IBD118  rampart  called  O&'a  dyke,  erected  as  l^e  aa  the 
Muddle  id  the  eighth  century,  must  be  admitted  as  an  andetu- 
>Ue  testimony  to  the  predatory  activity  of  the  Britons.  Tha 
nmtest,  howcTer,  became  every  day  more  imeqnal,  becmnsa 
the  law  of  gavel-Idnd,  whidi  prevailed  in  Walea,  led  to  a 
emitant  Babdiviaion  of  power  and  territory,  whenas  the 
UmeHMifl  Saxon  colonies  were  gradnally  conM^dated  into  a 
nooarchy.  The  Welsh,  ttieieibre,  were  n]timatel;jr  reduced 
to  a  anllen  acqmeaoence  in  the  gieatnesB  of  their  nvala,  nd 
were  even  compelled  to  pay,  as  an  acknowledgnient  of  SaMn 
■npoitHity,  an  annual  tnbote,  theamonotof  irtiidi  is  fixed  in 
the  tews  of  Howd  Dha. 

Hume  has  rei^'ceented  the  Saxons,  dining  the  piogi'Wi 
«f  dieir  ecmqnestB,  as  extenninating  or  drrring  away  Ae 
whole  British  popntetiDa,  and  has  even  contended  that  they 
w«i«  0(niq>elled  to  do  ao  Ibr  die  security  of  tiieir  own  id*- 
nsteace.  It  is  siagolar  that  Ihia  acute  and  able  writer  shodd 
have  etnvinoed  hiindf  by  so  strange  •  lemm.  That  a  body 
of  northern  ptatca  Aoeld  have  been  snaUe  to  subsiBt  in  s 
loarishing  Bmnaa  cAmf  wttbont  dwhwying  the  enltivBdm 
of  tike  land;  and  that  aej  shoold  hsne  iMmd  it  e^wdieBt; 
whilfi  Iwninscd  l^  contiiiBal  wxrfine,  to  lay  t?  the  nrard  and 
to  take  the  plonpi  into  their  own  faanda,  would  acaveely^ipcar 
credible  even  if  a  similar  ecndnct  had  bees  attributed,  on  (be 
bnt  lii«tnri<«l  erideitee,  to  &e  Franks  ^d  oAcr  baibsvons 
eoaqoeKin;  beeawae  thcnecaari^ofobhuniiyieeniitBlytai 
was  a  peculiar  obstacle  to  Saxon  popotetiaB.  Indeed,  a  ihet 
so  ^xtiafjty  absurd  coold  nster  fiavo  dHaJned  admittaBoe 
inta  oar  histMy,  had  it  not  been  annmed  at  the  same  time  m 
a  seU^endcBt  proposition,  that  am  lai^vage  and  tews  ate 
poreh' northern,  and  ednbit  no  tntoM  of  anr  mixtmie  between 
fte  Saxon  scMiquaaa  and  the  wdive  inhabitaBta.  Bnt  iUi 
aasamptian  baa,  on  eiaminstisn,  been  finrnd  to  be  Use. 
Ihere  a>e  good  reason  fiv  b^eving,  that  seme  portion  of 
onr  langni^  iacfWeUi  oogiii;  and,  wfth  raspoot  to  oar 
tam^  Wiitakier  has  Aown  tfaat  the  Saxm  system  of  pd&ef 
ma  gnAed  .apsn  that  of  tin  &itiri^  tlioagfa  eoncdderably 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


SS  INTROSOCTTOH, 

modified,  bo  as  to  suit  the  freer  and  milder  ^vemment  to 
which  thev  had  been  preriously  aeciutomed;  and  that  this 
syBtem  undexwent  very  little  change  even  at  the  Norman  con- 
quest, which  has  been  generally  considered  as  the  epocha  of 
alnuMt  universal  innovation.  Power  and  property,  indeed, 
wen  transferred  1^  that  erent  into  other  haiids;  but  the 
tenures  under  which  they  were  held,  and  the  scryiccs  exacted 
as  their  price,  are  either  mentioned  hy  name,  or  described 
and  defined  in  the  various  codes  of  laws  enacted  by  our 
Saxon  ancestota.  A  nearly  Bimikr  scheme  is  seen  in  that  of 
Howel  Dha,  which  is  professedly  a  collection  and  renovation 
of  the  usages  long  before  established  in  Wales;  where  the 
law  of  succession,  by  requiring  incessant  subdiviaionB  of  pro- 
perty, had  multiplied  the  services  of  vassalage  to  as  great  an 
extent  as  could  be  demanded  bv  the  utmost  refinements  of  the 
feudal  system.  Upon  the  whole,  though  it  is  certain  that  the 
leaders  and  princes  of  Britain  defended  their  power  with 
equal  valour  and  obstinacy,  it  would  be  very  raah  to  conclude 
that  the  whole  body  of  their  subjectfi  preferred  exile  or  exter- 
iniuBtion  to  a  timid  and  disloyal  acquiescence  in  the  govern- 
ment of  a  fbreign  invader;  or  tiiat  this  invader  disdained  to 
derive  firom  the  laboun  of  his  new  subjects,  either  the  neces- 
•ories  of  life,  or  those  luxuries  and  useM  arts  which  they  hod 
learned  from  the  Romans.  In  short,  all  analogy  seems  to 
concur  with  the  beet  evidence,  in  leading  us  to  believe  that 
the  Saxons  and  Britons  of  the  low  lands  were  gradually  incor- 
porated, like  the  Franks  and  Oaula,  though  perhaps  in  very 
oifierent  proportions,  BO  as  to  Form  one  people. 

Hie  Norman  conquest  was  an  event  which  was  beheld  by 
the  Welsh  with  the  greatest  exultation,  because  it  revenged 
them  on  their  enemies  the  Saxons,  and  on  Harold,  from  whom 
they  had  sufiered  much ;  but  they  seem  to  have  derived  from 
it  no  advantage  beyond  the  present  gratification  of  their  paa- 
siuns.  Had  William's  success  been  less  rapid  and  complete, 
it  is  probable  that  during  his  struggle  for  empire  he  might 
have  invited  the  Welsh  princes  to  share  in  the  dangers  and 
{ffofits  of  his  enterprise ;  bat,  having  gained  England  by  a 
■ingle  battle,  be  succeeded  of  course  to  the  elauns  of  the 
Saxon  monarchs,  and  having  marched  an  army  in  lOBO  as  &r 
as  St.  David's,  received  the  homage  and  tribi^  of  the  Welsh 
nation.    Scone  d^rce  of  intercoorse  appean  to  have  taken 


L,  Cookie 


iru^a  nviava  thb  horkax  era.  29 

^aee  between  tiie  Norman  and  Cunbrian  lorcla,  be<!anM  wt 
find  the  Nonnans  ealled  in  as  allies  by  Caiadoc  ap  Qriffitli, 
and  afterwards  employed  in  some  petty  enterpriaes  in  Cardi- 

C;  while  mi  tlie  ouer  band  a  nnmber  of  WeUi  appear  ti> 
e  enlisted  onder  tbe  banners  of  the  earl  of  Hereford!  Bnt 
what  were  exactly  the  relations  between  the  Normans  and 
their  British  nei^boun;  what  was  William'a  system  t^ 
policy  rentectiDg  them;  or  whether  he  bod  leisure  to  form 
any,  amiw  bis  Tariona  and  important  occupotionB,  caimot 
be  diBcorered  from  the  imperfect  notices  of  contemporary 
historians. 

But  the  next  reign  Auniehes  us  with  some  cimuDBtanoes 
iriiicb,  though  generally  passed  over  as  unimportant,  may 
peibaps  throw  some  hght  on  the  obscure  politics  of  thia 
period.  It  seems  that  a  petty  baron  of  South  Wales,  named 
Einion  ap  CoUwn,  baring  by  his  military  services  ingratiated 
himself  at  the  court  of  William  Rufiui,  was  dispatched  to 
London  by  Jeatyn  ap  Gwrgant,  loid  of  Glamorgan,  with 
orders  to  obtain,  if  possible,  tbe  succour  of  some  Nonnan 
forces  against  Kbye  ap  Tewdwr,  prince  of  South  Wales;  and 
was  promised,  if  his  embassy  should  be  anccessM,  the  band 
of  Jestyn'a  daugbtcr  in  marriage-  Einion  accomplished  his 
purpose,  and  engaged  tbe  services  of  llobert  Fiti-Hamon,  and 
twelve  other  knights,  by  whose  valour  tbe  victory  was  secured 
to  Jestyn,  and  Bbya  was  slain  in  the  engagement.  But  iba 
band  of  the  lady  was  now  contemptuovusly  withheld ;  and  tho 
mortified  ambassador  bad  no  means  of  obtaining  redress  bnt 
by  requesting  tbe  assistance  of  bjf  allies  against  bis  former 
emjdoyer.  His  negotiations  were  again  snccessfol;  Jestyn 
was  defeated  in  bis  turn,  and  bis  lands,  comprehending  tti» 
idiole  lordship  of  Glamorgan,  were  divided  between  Fitr- 
HsjQon  and  his  companions.  Such  a  tempting  example  could 
not  be  resisted  by  Norman  cupidity.  William  Rufiis  was 
assaulted  by  daily  solicitors  fur  the  grant  of  such  lands  in 
Wales  OS  the  adventurers  might  be  able  to  conquer;  and 
many  of  our  early  nobility,  the  Cecils,  the  Idcies,  tiie  Mont- 
gomeries,  the  Mortimers,  and  others,  owed  a  considerable  part 
of  their  great  demesnes  to  the  success  of  similar  expeditions. 
Yet  when  William  himself,  a  prince  of  great  military  talents, 
at  Ibe  bead  of  a  veteran  and  victorious  army,  attempted  the 
invaidoD  <^  Wales  in  1097   it  is  agreed  on  all  bands  that  he 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


30  UTTBOOVCticnr. 

ms  compiled  to  retiettt  moet  inglorionsly,  and  a!ba  mSexing 
ocpsmderable  tones. 

If  we  parane  our  exainiiiatuni  through  the  following  TOgn% 
we  shall  find  a  succeaaioD.  of  nmilar  ooatiadiotiona.  Such 
WBB  the  increaBe  of  Norman  influence  in  Wales,  tiiat  Hemy  I. 
exerciied  there  all  the  r^hta  of  a  feudal  sovereign;  bestowed 
OIL  bii  favouritea  the  t^ritories  of  such  Welsh  lords  as  he 
thought  it  couTenient  to  dispossess;  and  even  conferred  on  a 
Nonoan  the  vacant  bishopric  of  St.  David's.  Yet  his  ei^ie- 
diUon  in  1113  against  Qriffith  ap  Conan,*  prince  of  North 
Wales,  and  Owen,  prince  of  Powis,  waa  by  no  means  repu- 
tahle  to  the  royal  army;  and  the  caresses  which  he  bestowed 
on  these  princes  aAer  their  Bubmiseion,  and  the  subsequent 
progresa  of  Qriffith  ap  Rees,  sbongly  confirm  the  assertion  of 
the  Welsh  historians,  that  Henry's  triumph,  such  as  it  was, 
reaulled  much  more  from  his  policy  than  from  hia  military 

During  the  troublesome  reign  of  Stephen,  the  royal  powsr 
was  completely  crippled  by  internal  dissensions ;  but  in  that 
of  Henry  II.  we  find  four  great  expeditions  into  Wales;  and 
William  of  Malmeabuty  aeems  to  consider  it  as  a  great  canae 
of  triumph,  thwt  the  Bnglish  monarch,  by  combining  tho 
esertioiu  of  a  powerful  navy  with  those  of  a  vast  armv,  had 
been  enabled  to  extort  the  submissioii  of  the  re&actory  ^eUi- 
men.  If,  therefore,  we  compare  these  mighty  expeilitions  and 
imperfect  snoceaaee  with  the  very  trifling  efibrt  by  whioA 
Edward  I.  precipitated  Llewelyn  fnaa  his  throne,  and  annexed 
his  principalis  for  ever  to  ^e  F-ngHah  crown,  we  shall  pre. 
bably  be  conTineed  that  the  Wd^  were  indebted  for  the 
eigoyment  of  their  independence,  whidi  lasted  till  near  the 
oloee  of  the  thirteenth  century,  to  other  inqiortant  caosea,  in 
addition  to  the  impracticable  nature  of  their  country,  and  to 
the  brarcry  and  pertinacity  with  which  it  was  defended. 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  during  thia  early  period,  the 
inspective  rights  of  hinge,  and  of  their  barons  or  tenants  in 
cafute,  were  very  ill  defined,  and  that  this  was  the  source  of 
frequent  disputes  in  every  part  of  Europe.     Daring  peace, 

*  It  mtj  parbipa  be  worth  whSie  to  remuV,  thit  this  prince,  who  wM 
■ble  to  withMud  the  ntmoiteffi>ft>or&  royal  Kinri  bad  been  driT«a  (ran 
hii  rtommiMH  bj  Hsgh  Lapai,  ml  of  Cbotw. 


J  L,  Google 


o^usK  or  THX  nFSKFXinnKci  ot  wixu.         81 

when  the  bormiB  were  dispened,  lliey  oonld  taly  esc^te  the 
cspiitAaaB  iiriiietice  of  their  eoreretgn  by  flight;  onleM  tfaejr 
ponened  snoi  k  d^ree  of  power  ■■  confeired  a  nuaohicTons 
md^iendence,  and  die  meaiw  of  resurtii^  the  joat  ctainw  <rf 
ttte  crown.  Daring  w«r  they  ibnned  a  sect  of  volonteer 
■rdt;  bad  oonatant  opportnnitiea  of  oonmhing  on  the  cnbjeot 
of  their  comsion  intereatB;  and  often  rendered  abortive  the 
beat  concerted  eiiterpnae«,  in  caaes  yrbert  those  mtereata 
migjit  hsre  been  oompromiaed  by  eacceae.  Now  the  indepen- 
dence of  Wnka,  as  affordii^  a  place  of  ?«flige  to  fugitives 
from  arbitrary  power;  as  oi^rizig  almost  impreenaUe  posi- 
tions  for  titeir  fortified  casUes;  as  abotmding  wiib  a  tenantry 
imred  to  predatory  expeditions,  and  ready  to  take  arms  «t 
the  first  summons, — was  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  whole 
body  of  Nonnan  beitms,  and  partionlarly  to  those  who  had 
been  »ble  to  extort  by  force,  or  to  obbdn  l^  mabrimonial 
affiances  with  the  native  princes,  a  permanent  settlement  ia 
the  coostry.  These  last  were  amoiw  the  most  powttM  of 
nor  nobility;  and  tbe  soceesses  of  tiie  first  adventiireis  in 
Ireland,  under  Strongbow,  afford  a  curious  example  of  the 
power  which  they  wtre  capable  of  deriving  from  their  "Welsh 
vassals-  It  is  therefbre  evident  that  every  attempt  at  the 
sabptgation  of  WaleB  on  the  part  of  the  crown,  was  sure  to  be 
thwarted  and  opposed  as  much  as  possible  by  the  officers  of 
the  n^al  army,  all  of  whom  were  personally  interested  in 
rendering  such  expeditions  abcoiive. 

On  the  other  hand,  onr  monarohs  were  by  no  means  inat- 
tentive to  their  own  interests,  but  employed  all  the  engines  of 
terror  and  of  flattery  to  procure  and  preserve  a  predominant 
interest  in  tbe  principuity.  When  their  arms  were  anC" 
cessfnl,  they  never  &iled  to  exact  from  the  Welsh  a  somber 
<^  hostages,  usually  chosen  from  the  noblest  youths  of  the 
oonntry,  on  whom  they  revenged  with  remorseless  severity 
every  insurrection  of  tnetr  kindred ;  at  the  same  time  that 
they  encouraged  and  received  at  their  court,  with  the  most 
flattering  distinctions,  all  such  Welsh  lords  as  they  were  able 
to  gain  to  their  interest.  At  other  times  they  endeavoured, 
by  tiie  alliirements  of  a  splendid  alliance,  to  gain  over  the 

Cces  themselves;  and  David  ap  Owen  and  Llewelyn  ap 
rertli  had  the  honour  of  being  married  to  Norman  prin- 
oeases.     All  these  efibrts  of  pc^oy  were  soccessfiil  when 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


32  IKTEOBDCTIOir. 

guided  by  able  hands;  bnt  in  an  age  when  power  wu 
attached  rather  to  the  person  than  to  the  authority  of  the 
sovereign,  it  was  impossible  that  either  flattery  or  terror, 
when  employed  by  auch  kings  as  John  or  Henry  III.,  should 
control  the  insurbordination  of  the  barons,  or  curb  the  restlen 
ftctirity  of  their  Welsh  allies.  Accordiiiffly  the  barons  tri- 
umph^ over  the  regal  anthority,  and  Oewelyn  the  Great 
appeared  to  have  estehlished,  for  a  time,  the  ancient  indepen- 
&nce  of  his  country.  The  real  strength  and  importance  of 
Wales,  however,  depended  very  much  on  the  anarchy  of  the 
times ;  its  weight  appeared  conspicuous  only  when  it  turned 
the  scale  between  contending  parties  of  its  nei^bours.  It 
therefore  Tanished  at  the  accession  of  Edward  I.,  who  SUC' 
ceeded  to  an  undisputed  throne  with  the  reputation  of  emi- 
nent abilities.  The  Great  Charter,  now  considered  as  law, 
must  have  fully  satisfied  the  wishes  of  the  wisest  barons;  the 
most  turbulent  were  tired  by  the  long  duration  of  civil  dis- 
sensions; all  were  dispos  d  to  obey  a  sovereign  who  knew 
how  to  exact  obedience;  Edward  had  also  a  party  in  Wales 
nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  reigning  prince;  so  that  in  remor- 
ing  that  prince  from  the  throne,  and  annexing  the  principality 
to  nis  own  dominions,  he  had  simply  the  aii*  of  revoking  the 
grant  of  a  royal  fief,  in  consequence  of  the  contumacy  of  a 
rebellious  vo^al. 

During  the  lonff  coune  of  poUtical  intrigue  which  was  ulti- 
mately terminated  br  this  conquest,  it  is  certainly  reasonable 
to  suppose  that  a  degree  of  interconrse,  fiilly  sufficient  to 
account  for  any  exclwnge  of  Uterary  materials,  must  have 
taken  place  between  the  Normans  and  the  Welsh,  as  well  as 
between  these  last  and  their  brethren  of  Armorico,  who  stood 
in  the  same  relation  as  themselves  to  the  sovereigns  of  this 
country  while  dukes  of  Normandy :  and  the  Cvmric  and 
Hreton  bards,  following  their  respective  lords  to  the  court  of 
a  common  sovereign,  tuid  every  opportunity  of  comparing  the 
traditional  fables  of  their  ancestors,  and  of  imparting  them  to 
the  I-Vench  minstrels  with  whom  thc^  associated.  But,  as 
there  is  reason  Ui  believe  that  the  British  lays  were  seldom  if 
over  comnutted  to  writing,  ii  might  be  expected  that  different 
minstrels  would  tell  the  same  story  with  some  variations; 
that,  unable  to  retain  in  their  memory  the  whole  of  a  long 
narrative,  they  would  carry  off,  in  the  tirst  instance,  detached 


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TBX  BSITIHS  KIITODOII   OF  STBATHCLTDK.  3S 

adventures,  wMch  &ey  would  aftervardti  connect  bs  well  aa 
they  were  able ;  and  tlut  a  system  of  baditional  history,  thoa 
imperfectly  preserved  tliroagh  the  medium  of  a  very  loose 
tnuislation,  and  already  involved  in  mnch  geographic  and 
chronol<^cal  con&sion,  would  assume  the  &bulou8  appear, 
ance  which  we  find  in  the  French  narratives  called  romances. 

It  hot  been  necessary  to  follow,  thug  &r,  the  history  of  the 
Notman  minstrels,  because  it  is  certainly  to  them  that  we  are 
indebted  for  the  greater  part  of  the  ronumoe  histories  now 
extant,  which  were  afterwards  avowedly  banalated  by  our 
English  veraifiers.  But  a  very  elegant  and  accurate  writor 
has  lately  shown  that  this,  though  generally,  is  not  univer- 
sally true;  and  that  a  small  number  of  our  earliest  roetrictd 
tales  were,  most  probably,  first  exhibited  in  an  English  dress, 
and  then  transkted,  or  rather  imitated,  by  French  misstrela. 
As  ilr.  Scott's*  opinions  always  deserve  attention,  it  may  be 
proper  to  lay  before  the  reader  a  short  outline  of  the  reason- 
ing by  whidi  they  ore  established. 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  during  more  than  two  centuries 
after  the  arrival  of  the  Saxons,  the  whole  western  coast  aS 
this  island,  from  the  extremity  of  Cornwall  to  the  river  Clyde, 
continued  to  be  occupied  by  the  Britons,  ond  that  the  con- 
qnest  of  Lancashire,  about  670,  first  efiectoally  severed  the 
northern-  tribes  of  Cumbria  and  Stratholydc  from  all  inter- 
course with  those  of  modem  Wales.  This  northern  district, 
comprising  the  Roman  provinces  of  Valentia  and  part  at 
MuTimn,  bad  bccu  more  thicldy  occiqiied  by  the  armies,  and 
periiaps  more  civilized  by  the  arts  of  Rome  than  any  other 
port  of  Britain.  It  gave  birth  to  Aneurin,  Merlin,  and  Lly- 
warch-Hen,  the  most  ancient  and  celebrated  of  the  Welsh 
poets ;  it  produced  Bedc  and  Adamnan,  the  earUest  of  the 
Saxon  historians;  and  continued  for  ages  to  retain  its  literary 
superiority.  Of  its  history  very  little  is  known, — except  that, 
being  defended  by  the  strong  posts  of  Dunborton  and  Stirlii^, 
and  in  part  by  the  celebrated  bamer  against  the  Ficts,  stOl 
known  by  the  name  of  the  Cabail,  or  war-dyke,  the  small 


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34  IMXKOSITCTIOir. 

Mngdom  of  SbmUudyde  nuuntuiied  its  independence,  durii^ 
•eveial  ceotutiea,  «gun«t  the  BaxtxoM  of  Northtunbria,  u  w^ 
M  agmsst  the  gepuate  efforte  of  the  Scottubeiid  Piodah  eove- 
weogat.  fiat  when  these  kingdoms  became  united  in  the 
pemm  of  Kenneth,  aboot  ike  yettr  848,  it  is  probable  that 
IhaK  BritouB,  tfaou^  for  a  short  time  protected  by  Atbelstan, 
kMsne  pennaneiLtly  tributaiy  to  Sootland;  jrtiU,  however, 
ntauaing  their  language  and  mannen,  and  even  their  nominal 
WLiLignB, — ^the  last  of  whom,  Ewen  the  Bald,  attended  Mal- 
oafan  If.  in  1016  to  the  battle  <rf  Cainnn,  againgt  the  Mor- 
llnHnbrianB.  The  British  kingdom  or  principedit;  of  Camber, 
faoid,  campnsii^  the  present  shires  of  Cumberland,  West- 
norriand,  and  part  of  Lancadiire,  had  been  prerioualy  ceded 
ta  -Bcothmd,  as  a  sort  of  fief,  about  the  middle  of  the  tenth 
«eKfinty;  and  in  the  beginnii^  of  the  twelfth  the  earldom  of 
Northnmberiand,  of  nearly  tbe  same  extent  as  the  present 
■ODun:^,  came  by  marriage  to  David,  eari  of  Cumberland, 
youngest  son  of  Malcolm  III.,  who  thtu  united  to  the  tem- 
iBcua  of  tbe  Picts  and  Soots  nearly  all  thoee  which  had  been 
aoneased  by  the  Angles  of  fiemioa,  and  by  the  Britons  oC 
CDmbria  and  Strathdyde. 

We  mnst  add  that  many  Norman  barons,  disgusted  by  the 
<oandnct  of  William  the  Conqneror,  retired  to  the  coiut  of 
Maloolm,  where  they  were  liberally  entertained;  that  his  sons 
wore  twice  (in  1094  and  1097)  assisted  by  Anglo-Nonnan 
armiee  in  their  oontest  with  the  nsniper,  Donald  Bane;  and 
that  at  the  battle  (^  the  Standard,  most  of  David's  men  at 
arms  are  expressly  stated  to  have  been  Normans.  Scotland 
4herefi)re,  in  the  eleventh  and  tweldb  centuries,  eontained  a 
still  greater  variety  of  inhabitants  than  Ei^land ;  but  the 
several  nations  were  placed,  in  the  two  countrieB,  under  very 
difibrent  circumstanoes. 

In  England,  the  possesuon  of  the  soil  had  been  wrested 
&om  the  natives  l^  the  Saxons,  after  a  very  long  and  bloody 
sbnggle,  maintained  on  both  sides  with  inveterate  animosity; 
and  it  is  remarkable  that,  in  consequence  of  the  violent  and 
intolerant  character  of  Austin,  the  apostle  of  the  Saxons,  their 
conversion  to  Christianity  had  inflamed,  instead  of  softening, 
the  rancour  of  the  rival  nations.  After  the  Norman  conquest, 
the  Saxons  long  ceased  to  have  a  political  existence ;  beii^ 
porcellcd  out  in  minute  subdivisions,  with  few  means  of  com- 


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■coTTiiH  oBiam  «r  Kosxaif  bkoiibu. 

moBiaaliiig  with  each  other,  and  bliadly  rabKnient  t 
TMnectiTfi  mtttten.  In  SooUuid,  on  the  contrniy,  tb 
and  Ficts,  after  bdng  frequently  connected  \iy  fuch  a 
as  are  oon^Mtlble  viuk  a  Baroge  state  of  wcie^,  and  '«g«g™g 
a  friendB  m  a  long  BOOoeMion  of  predatray  wan  igainat  die 
pmnBM,  tine  Bntrau,  and  the  Suona,  were  finalfy  anulg^- 
msled,  after  a  Aort  oonteBt  fin:  the  aciTCTeign^,  br  ir«»»m*, 
irixt  had  netennons  to  the  crown  of  bout  oatians;  altar 


whii^  ihea  ^dnt  fiocea  mcceaeivriy  oTer}i<oweTed  ti 
toibes  of  Bntou  and  Saxons  within  fheir  reach.  Netbr 
idigioaa  di£lbieneea  sor  mortifying  political  diatiniotica^ 
i^ipear  to  have  pierailed  aaumg  the  people  thna  oonneoted 
lif  their  obedience  to  a  common  sovereign.  It  ia  piolMdile, 
indeed,  that  Aej  Icoiff  coDtinned  to  nae  their  diotmot  las- 
gw^ea,and  toietainueir^i|KopriatelawaBiidcaatama;  tint 
that  thic  was  due^  owing  to  trcir  geographical  bomdaziM, 
and  to  the  pand^  of  dieir  wants,  whtdi  ptnvented  a  freqmat 
intereonm.  Ilkey  were  sepanited  by  their  general  bacbKLMB, 
not  bj  ^^tai  recqffocal  animomtf.  When,  therefate,  tiiMe 
impa&nents  were  is  a  great  meaaiue  leoiOTed  by  Ualcclm  in. , 
■wba  tnraa&rred  the  seat  of  government  from  tfie  Scottirit  to 
the  Sanm  part  of  his  donuniona,  a  language,  in  which  d» 
Saxon,  more  or  leas  modified  \fy  an  admixture  of  the  Britioh, 
and  perh^  of  the  French,  was  predominant,  eonld  not  &fl  of 
being  formed;  and  it  was  likely  to  aogoire  a  certain  d^ree  of 
perCration  much  flo<mer  than  the  TingliiJi  of  the  Bouth,  whidi 
was  gradually  derekited  midw  &r  less  anqdcious  cjmna- 


This  priori^  of  the  northern  to  the  southern  T^'"^  dia- 
lect k  proved  by  a  paaaage  of  Bohert  de  Bnmite,  much  had 
been  hitherto  misunderstood,  and  which  Scott  has  happitf 

*  There  U,  in  the  cwimi  old  In  book  cfttUd  "Bepun  Mijabtcm," 
■  Inr  edied  "da  Cro,"  (Ub.  ir.  c.  3E),  n^nlatiiig  the  amgihmaai  to  be 
piU  by  >  bat^dde,  ■eootding  to  tin  rank  of  the  pnaon  lUin.  Skeoa 
•aj*  mt  tbe«  liwi  u«  coimetadiixrr ;  Out  be  bu  teen  tbem  wtittai 
Oaliiet  (in  Froxi?},  md  tbat  tbajrare  entitlad  Lig—  iitttr  SmtM  «l 
Stvlai.  nej  contaiii  oMxij  Cellie  or  Britieb  tcrmi,  and  w  do  TuiaiB 
aU  charter!  fopectaic  Cnmberiand  md  DaniMeaHUre.  Ibii  iuaattlaa 
of  Biitith  enitomi  in  fsodal  innatitiins  atroii^  arpiea  ■  mixture  ot  dn 
panb.  WlOi  napect  to  religiai,  which  tike  Keti  raodved  from  tbe  Scoto 
or  Uah,  tb*  ataBst  baimia^  Men*  to  have  pivrtfled  iritUn  ttw  BMtben 
bontkr. 

D  2 


uL,  Cookie 


i4u£i4*ted  by  exfailxtiiw,  in  tlte  roHaaee  of  Gr  1 
oompomi  byTluNnM  or  t!d«fUoun.  a  cpediiMa  cf  tbe  q 

utMim  uid  daboraU:  and  artifieial  gtjie  attzibBted  t^  Ae 
hibWriui  tq  tliat  poet  and  to  but  ooantiyiBan  K"«-*-]  He  haa 
ulna  tUown,  by  a  re&renoe  to  anaeat  diaiten,  Ikat  tbe 
tiaoUiiAi  adoBtiaa  lA  thiM  early  period  eajoyed  all  &e  ptivik^M 
aud  dutiuctiooa  poaaMsed  t^  the  Nonnaa  trovveun,  whom 
Uuiy  oattf  ly  rtt^ailed  in  the  arts  of  narratioD,  and  orer  whom 
timy  jtmiiaged  uos  Buuufeut  adrantage  in  tlieir  familiar 
aanuamtance  with  the  uaual  aeenM  of  ctuTaliT.  Carlisle,  as 
wa  kam  fVom  Froiiwart,  waa  tbu  Oirduel  of  romsiiFe,  ibc 
&vi)unte  Meat  of  Artliur ;  and  between  that  place  and  PeniTth 
i«  hia  ■' round  table,"  which,  like  hia  "«cat  '  and  his  "oven," 
atill  recoril^  hii  memory.  Buniborauf^  Ca«tle,  as  we  leam 
from  KnigtitJiii,  wsa  the  "t)uu>t('l  orftueilleux,"  and  Berwick 
(hu  "ulifilfiiu  de  la  joyeuM  kutcIq,"  the  favourite  habitation  of 
Sir  I*mieiilnt.  Kttripli-foreit,  tliu  Bylva  Caledonia  beloved 
by  &tui'lin,  wlioae  remaini  ore  luppoacd  to  hare  been  buried 
ut  Drummi'laiar,  wai  ineludod  in  the  territoriee  of  Urien  and 
Ywuiii'  Oiillowny,  naoording  la  Whitokor,  wm  the  patri- 
mony of  the  (lelehrattid  Gawaiii,  At  Stowe,  in  the  role  of  the 
Uala  (the  Wedule,  or  vallia  aanotua  of  Nenniun),  a  few  miles 
abuve  ifulrOHo,  wiw  tlie  ohuroh  of  St.  Mory's.  where  Arthur,  as 
tiio  UritiKh  hiNtorian  maunv  lu.  dcpotitnl  a  pii'cc  of  the  true 
(iroatii  and  at  Meiftle  in  An^fuii,  bcitwocn  Coupnr  and  Forfnr, 
tradition  atill  puinta  o>it  tliti  tomb  of  "  Dome  Qonore,"  tliu 
beautitVil  tiuenever.  Th(»  SoottiHli  miuttrcls,  therefore,  thiu 
■iurrotkudtHl  by  the  ttiemorinU  of  I'omnncc,  and  having  May 
lUicew  to  tho  tnulitionary  latea  of  Strathclydo  and  Cambria,* 
wore  Ukoly  to  be  otiuaidered  as  the  most  authentic  depositories 
wX  thoae  narmtivea;  and  af^rardiugly  Thomas  of  Ereeldonn  is 
litwl  iu  (hi*  rliaraoler  bv  a  tVeoch  minstrel,  of  whose  life  of 
Sir  'IVikUiun  two  vahutUe  MS.  fragments  arc  {aescrved  in 
l>oUfo'i*  eoUi'vtioi)  at  Oxfo«l.t     Another  Thuuas,  or  per- 

■  'IV  bilcniMkrM  bctwca  At  Cjnrie  aad  Saxoa  tribet  m  bo  loa 
Ukvl>  W  »ltM  U«  uttiK  Ihu  tW  foattj  of  Ihp  httwi  aad  Sntt  In. 
iiUh  (ceikt  tf^fntnaiX  at  |^(«fc*tttlity,  atlnbiilttl  to  Ots  i  in  ■■■tmfr  the 
uuik)i{y  he^ecu  tlw  NonhiuKtHtAa  aard  Wdsh  andn  of  nogicg.  n 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


coKcmsioiT.  S7 

haps  the  same,  is  in  lilf  a  manner  quoted,  oa  tbe  heet  authority 
ibr  the  narrative,  in  a  Fi«nch  metrical  iaetory  ot  "King 
Horn,"  a  romance  of  which  the  ecenery  and  names  are  evi- 
dently Northumbrian:  and  the  adventures  of  Wade,  twice 
noticed  by  Chancer,  must  evidently  be  referred  to  the  same 
country,  because  the  castle  of  the  hero  stood  near  the  Roman 
wall,  which  be  is  said  to  hare  snrmountcd.  Besides  these, 
the  fr^ments  of  "  Sir  Oawain"  and  of  "  Sir  Galaron,"  pub- 
lished by  Pinkerton,  have  all  the  marks  of  original  com- 
poaition,  and  are  with  great  probability  ossigntd  by  Scott 
to  the  tfurteenth  century;  «  very  early  period  certainly,  but 
which  is  justified  by  the  intemm  evidence  of  style, — an  evi- 
dence pcrifectly  admisaiblc  in  this  case,  because  the  early 
eminence  of  the  Scottish  minstrels  is  proved  by  the  authority 
of  Robert  de  Brunnc,  and  by  that  of  Wyutnwn's  Chronicle, 

As  a  farther  confirmation  of  this  opinion,  it  may  be  added, 
that  whSe  Erccldoun,  Kendal,  and  Hucheon,  poeta  of  the 
North,  are  celebrated  by  our  early  historians ;  while  every 
ancient  ballad  bears  testimony  to  the  excellence  of  the  min' 
strela  "from  the  North  conntiy;"  and  while  onr  HSS.  abound 
with  metrical  romances  written  in  the  northern  dialect, — we 
do  not  possess  one,  anterior  to  the  time  at  Chancer,  whitdi  can 
with  certainty*  be  ascribed  to  a  poet  of  South  Britain. 

It  is  now  tune  to  close  this  long  and  desnltoty,  and  perhapa 
very  tedious  introduction.  Many  readers  of  the  fiulowing 
old-wives'-tales  will,  probably,  be  little  solicitous  to  know 
whether  the  Danes,  the  Arabians,  or  tbe  Britons,  supplied  the 
original  materials  of  snch  compositions.  But  the  inquiry 
having  given  rise  to  much  controversy  amongst  men  of  great 

llOBu  «bo  compiled  that  txanMnce,  and  Tbtmn  tbe  catbor  of  tbe 
minanns  of  Ron,  whether  one  penon  or  not,  moit  not  t>e  identified  wilb 
TbMui  of  Brnddoim :  nor  ii  tbere  any  reuon  to  bdier*  that  thej  had 
■■J  connection  with  the  noith  of  England. 

•  It  b  trae  that  the  Life  of  Aleiander,  (he  moit  epiiited  perhaps  of 
onr  early  nnnancea,  has  been  aurit>ed  to  Adam  Dane,  Manhal  of  8(i>t- 
Tni  le  bow,  and  antbor  of  lome  metrical  linoo*  and  other  pocml  In  tba 
rdgn  (rf  Edward  II.,  and  that  Bitaon  ind  nyael/  bare  adopted  tUl 
*n{na«tioa  oa  the  anthoritie*  of  Biihop  Tinner  and  Waitoo.  Bat, 
baVuig  canfaUf  pemaed  ererf  line  c4  the  romance,  I  am  now  OMiTineed 
that  tbej  wen  mlataken.  No  ■nthor'i  naioe  ia  mantianed  in  it)  and  ill 
«tf  la,  whidi  nearij  naemble*  Oat  of  Merlin,  bu  no  toit  of  tmiogj  with 
Uut  of  Adam  Dnie'i  naimt,  u  qooted  bj  Waiton. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


3S  isTxo-Dvcnos. 

lYJTinmg  ^ni  genius,  it  did  not  altogether  depend  imoa  tbe 
pcoaent  writer  to  cEstniM  it  with  a  rer^  sSgfat  notice.  It 
aeemed  to  him,  that  the  best  way  of  HYoiding  all  appeaianm 
of  oompetition  with  his  abler  predeoesaon  was,  to  u^  before 
bis  readeiB  at  lai^  his  whc^  stock  of  mateiiab;  and  this,  ho 
hopes,  wiUbs  acoept^d  as  his  e»nw  for  the  nurtley  character 
of  tbe  pEeoedbg  pages. 


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APPENDIX. 


PETHUS  ALPHONSTTS. 

Thx  fi^wing  short,  bat  aconnte,  analyns  of  this  verj  cniions 
wqA  ma  ftimuhed  hy  the  late  Hr.  Douce. 

^IlierG  is  a  copTof  Ae  origiiial  Lstiii  m^  entaded' "  Aljriion- 
soi  de  derioli  Disciplma,"  in  the  Britiih  Mssennt,  bat  it  b 
myddbetiTeaCtheeni  There  aie  also  two  Frendi  msbical 
veniow  <rfdte  nme  (BE9S.  Hari.  Ml  and  4388),*  the  ftmner 
wsntiii^  a  leaf  irt  toe  end,  and  tlae  latter  imperii  m  the 
mddle ;  hot  tlief  vaty  eoaaideia]^  in  the  nasdier  and  ammge- 
Btent  at  the  Btoriea,  irindi  an  gOMaalfy  man  ample,  imd 
peAuM  better  told,  dun  in  the  LatiB  eopy.  It  duniU  ■aem, 
dtercAira,  that  the  Frauh  tranafartcv  haa  lakai  imm  Hbtvtiea 
m  iiMwiiitiing  te  JmiirinM  Mm  origiiudi  OT  that  he  haa  vMd  a 
BKne  pnftet  e^py^  than  that  i^ich  is  hen  mentioned;  bnt 
Hob  must  remain  a  qneetion  till  odier  Latin  ci^iea  AaU  be 
»iiaiitined.  mmm  of  vhidi  nay  pewibly  be  preserred  in  the 
Nation^  libnry  a*  Fana. 

ma  respeet  to  the  Fiendt  US.  of  Piem  At^bn  (irito  is 
tlna  named  in  both  the  TrBTli»im  IKS.),  whioh  oaatad  at 
St  Germain  dee  'Pttt,  No.  1S30,  and  has  bem  partly  edited, 
and  partly  abridged,  by  BaihaBn,  under  the  title  of  ''Caatoie' 
nent  d'on  Vim  k  aon  VHa,"  m  mast  sn^nee  that  it  waa 
eithn  very  in^aiftct,  or  nay  niMtbea.ti.yelf  examined  bf  the 


uL,  Cookie 


40  INTKODUCTION. 

editor,  who  treats  tJie  work  as  anonymous,  and  appears  to 
have  known  nothing  concerning  the  author,  Petrus  Alphon- 
BUS.  a  conTerted  Jew,  who  flourished  in  1 106,  and  was  godson 
to  AlphonsuB  I.  king  of  Airagon.     These  stories  are  profes- 
sedly borrowed  from  the  Arabian  febulists,  and  cousist  of 
admonitions  &om  Saloan,  or,  as  the  author  says,  ho  is  called 
in  the  Arabian  tongue  Lucamam,  to  his  son,  Uluatntted  by 
examples,  which  are  arranged  in  ihe  following  order. 
1.  Story  of  the  &lee  friend  and  of  the  dead  calf  in  n  sack. 
See  Le  Grand,  fabl.  8.  255. — It  is  remarkable  that  Le 
<■  Grand,  as  well  as  Barbazan,  seems  to  have  known  nothing 
about  Petrus  Alphonsus,  whom  he  classes,  under  his  French- 
ified name  of  Pierre  Anfors,  amongst  the  Norman  fiibleoure. 
— ^This  stoiy  occurs  in  the  Qesta  itomanonun,  chap.  129. 
3.  The  well-known  tale  of  the  two  merchants  of  Baldac 
(Bagdad)  and  of  Egypt.    See  LeQnmd,&bl.  3.  262;  Boe- 
cace,  day  x.  nov.  8 ;  Gesta  Rom.  ch.  170. 

3.  The  mule  who  was  ashamed  of  bis  &tther,  the  ass,  and 
boasted  of  his  grandiatlier,  who  was  a  horse. 

4.  Hie  man,  the  ungrateful  serpent,  and  the  fox.  Here  the 
seroent  is  found  tied  to  a  tree,  and  by  the  fox's  cunning 
tied  up  again,  and  not  put  into  a  sack,  as  elsewhere  related. 
See  OeaL  Rom.  ch.  174;  Dir.  Hum.  Vibe,  or  Piipay. 

.5.  A  poet  claims,  as  a  reword  for  his  verses,  that  the  king 
should  appoint  him  his  porter,  with  Uberty  to  demand  a 
penny  of  every  hunch-back,  anodier  of  every  leper,  another 
of  every  one-eyed  man,  &c.  A  croaked  man  comes  to  the 
gate,  tmd,  having  revised  to  pay  the  first  penny,  is  proved 
to  have  all  the  other  defects,  and  taxed  occordmgly.  See 
Le  Onmd,  fabl.  3.  252;  Gesta  Rom.  ch.  257. 

6.  A  man,  in  opposition  to  the  advice  of  his  friend,  goes  into 
a  houae  where  people  were  drinking  and  rioting.  A  robber 
takes  refuge  amongst  them,  and  all  the  company  are  hanged. 

7.  Two  persons  hear  a  woman  singing.  Sic— Very  silly  tale, 
and  not  worth  notice. 

8.  A  vine-dresser  wounds  his  eye  while  working  in  his  vine* 
yard.  In  the  mean  time  las  wife  was  occupied  by  her 
gallant.  On  the  husband's  return,  she  contrives  the  lover's 
escape  by  kissing  ber  spoose  on  the  other  eye.  Le  Grand, 
&bL  4.  Ifi8 ;  Gest.  Rom.  di.  121,  and  many  of  the  Itidion 


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TXTXU8  ALPBONBUS.  41 

9.  An  artful  old  woman  conceals  her  daughter's  g&llont  from 
the  husband,  by  spieadin^  a  sheet  before  hia  eyes  in  such 
a  manner  ai  to  give  the  lover  an  opportunity  of  escaping. 
Lc  Grand,  fabL  4.  160;  Oerta  Rom.  ch.  122,  &c.,  &c. 

10.  A  nearly  similar  story,  in  which  the  mother  puts  a  sword 
into  the  hands  of  the  gallant,  and  persuades  the  husband, 
when  he  returns,  that  the  youn^  man  had  taken  refuge 
from  the  pursuit  of  three  assassms.  Le  Grand,  labl.  4. 
160,  kc,  itc. 

11.  A  king  requires  his  minstrel  to  tell  him  a  long  story  that 
will  lull  him  to  sleep.  The  minstrel  begins  a  talc  concern- 
ing a  conntryman  who  had  to  cross  a  ferry  with  600  sheep 
by  two  at  a  time,  and  then  fidls  asleep  in  the  midst  of  his 
stoiy.  The  king  wakens  him;  but  the  minstrel  requests 
that  the  countrynian  may  be  allowed  to  ferry  over  the  sheep 
before  he  resumes  his  narratire.  Le  Grand,  &bl,  1.  210, 
and  in  Don  Quixote. 

12.  Stratagem  of  an  old  woman  in  favour  of  a  young  gi 
She  persuades  his  mistress,  who  had  rejected  his  addr 
that  her  little  d<^  was  fbrmerly  a  woman,  and  so  trans. 
Amned  in  consequence  of  her  cruelty  to  her  lover.  Tlie 
HSS.  vary  much  in  this  story.  Le  Grand,  fabl  3.  459; 
Oeet.  Bom.  ch.  28. 

13.  A  woman,  shut  up  in  a  tower  by  a  jealous  husband, 
throws  a  stone  info  a  welL  The  man,  supposing  that  his 
wife  had  drowned  herself,  runs  to  her  relief.  She  escapes 
in  the  mean  time,  and  contrives  in  her  turn  to  shut  him 
into  tiie  tower.  See  the  Seven  Wise  Masters ;  Boccaee, 
day  vii.  nov.  4 ;  Le  Grand,  fidd.  3,  143 ;  Holi^re,  Oeo^e 
Dandin. 

14.  By  the  etrat^em  of  an  old  woman,  a  man  recovers  a  sum 
of  money  which  he  had  left  in  the  hands  of  a  taeacherous 
friend,  who  reftised  to  restore  it.  A  person  is  instmcted 
to  procure  some  strong  gilt  trunks,  to  fill  them  with 
stones,  and  to  offer  to  deposit  the  pretended  treasure  in 

.  the  hands  of  the  defrauder.  While  this  negotiation  is 
going  on,  the  claimant  is  sent  to  repeat  his  demand;  which 
the  ftlso' friend  now  complies  with,  lest  any  suspicion 
ahoald  fall  on  his  hones^  in  the  presence  of  the  new  dupe. 
lie  Grand.  titiL  3.  2S2;  Gesta  lUao.  ch.  118;  Boccace, 
day  Tiii.  nor.  10;  Arab.  N.  Ent. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


43  urrxoouonoR. 

15.  A  man  depodts  ten  eatka  of  oil  ia  the  haaas  at  a  neigli- 
bonr,  whom  he  afterworda  aceoMS  of  h«Titiff  itolen  «  part 
of  it.  By  the  sagacity  of  a  philovo^m,  ^mi  cansea  the 
drega  of  the  oil  to  be  axaminea,  the  knaveiy  of  the  acmuer 
is  diaoorered.     Le  Orand,  &bl.  3.  19. 

IS.  A  moa  hwefl  a  pone  of  gold,  oontaining  a  ei^den  serpent 
iritfa  eyea  of  hyaciiith;  and  eodeavonrs  to  Setntai  a  poor 
nun  vho  bad  ibimd  it  of  tiie  pnHniaed  reward,  by  aawrting 
that  the  puree  contained  two  Bcrpenta,  be.  Tne  diapnte 
being  t«&md  to  a  philoeopher,  ue  puma  is  adjudged  to 
the  finder.    Le  Onnd,  &bL  3.  34. 

17.  A  canntTjman  adyiaee  nme  tnrellara  lespecting  the 
RMd,  ko.,  ka. 

18.  Tiro  dtiaena  and  a  coont^nuD,  tosvdliiig  to  Meoea,  are 
reduced  to  a  single  loa£  It  is  agreed  that  he  who  dreatna 
tite  beat  dream  ahall  eat  it.  Hie  euualiyman  dia^ipoints 
the  intended  fraud  of  his  compaaions,  aad  gets  the  loa£ 
Le  Qrand,  &bl.  2.  328;  OeaL  Rom.  ch.  106;  also  in  p.  51 
oftiie  "  Hiatoria  JeschtUB  If  aaareni,"  a  blaaphemona  li&  of 
J.  C,  <rf  Jeviah  inraition. 

19.  Btory  of  sime  cIoA-cnttas,  and  ol  the  apptentioe  Bedwi, 
irtio  pHmtrea  hia  master  a  beatii^  fbr  ^^aoding  him  of 

.  his  htme^.    Le  Orasd,  &bL  3.  426. 

20.  Two  mmatiria  being  at  a  lojrel  f^aat,  one  irf  them  ^aces 
all  hia  btmea  cm  the  plate  of  lus  oompiion,  and  cDm[dHina 
to  the  king  that  he  had  eotai  aD  the  meat  lAicfa  belonged 
lodum.  Tim  nlhai  inUalii,  lij  imaiiiliinj,  (hat  llii  fiiiil  liinl 
deroved  meat,  bonea,  aad  aD.    See  Gladwin's  Hoonshee; 

r  Le  Grand,  fiU.  3.  SS. 

21.  Story  of  the  conntmoan  and  of  the  bird  who  prmnised 
ham  three  thinga  fir  ais  liberty,  "nua  ia  Le  Orand'a  "  Lai 
de  I'Oiselet,"  3.  430;  Way's  "Lay  of  the  litde  Bird;" 
Lyd(^'B  "Hie  Ckorle  and  die  Kid." 

22.  Story  of  Ae  wol^  the  ooautmnaa,  and  the  fax.  The 
wolf  is  left  in  a  well,  t'"lt™g  ana  a  aoppoaed  cheese  made 
by  the  mean's  image  on  the  water.^Initated  by  La  Fon- 
taine in  his  ftUee. 

23.  A  Qufi  bieaka  hia  neck  by  '-^■'■"g  at  a  i^  of  the  moon. 
.    Ia  Hu  DiieetDrinm  Hnmanm  Vitn,  i.  e.  the  lAtin  Tcraoa 

fremtheHebawofTOpay.   Le  GMnd,  &bL  4.  338;  Geata 
Bom.  ch.  136. 


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psxxm  Ai.¥moNm».  49 

24.  A.  man  igmit*  bis  Mmnt  to  dnt  tfa*  door.  Tba  Mrrant, 
who  is  a  Tcry  idle  fellaw,  afiriM  tlut  it  ia  ibnt.    In  tbe 

'  ig,  twinf  criered  ta  open  it,  he  my*  that,  haring 
m  this  inah,  he  had  negUoted  to  ahst  it.  Tha  ■aater 
r  peraeiTea  fata  laanoi.  Kid  onkxa  iim,  tba  aan  being 
aa,  t»  set  im  and  go  to  hia  woik.  He  now  adca  for 
i,  being  aaked  if  he  wa»  Mmukmed  to  aat 
dnsiBC  die  na^  le^iea,  "If  it  be  ni^t,  saflfer  me  to 
de^.  Aao&e  Hme  his  iiinali  i  oadaa  itim  to  riw  in  the 
B^  to  dJaecmor  wiidlier  it  taiaed.  He  eaUa  dn  dog, 
ithe  laj'  at  the  door,  and  findiag  ita  feet  drVt  fwmounnae' 
Aa*  Ae  wealfaK  is  &ir.  Beii^  ariwd  if  the  fin  was  aztin- 
gnished,  he  calls  the  cat,  and,  findiiig  her  cold,  aaawo*  in 
the  affiimatiTe. —  Btoiy  60  in  Gladwin's  Hoonshee;  In 
Melandri  Jocor.  centnr.  2.  210. 

25.  The  same  servant,  who  is  a  negro  named  Maimnndos, 
lelates  to  his  master  a  curious  story  exhilnting  a  climax  <^ 
calamities.     See  it  in  Le  Qrand,  bbl.  4.  119. 

26.  Accotmt  of  Socrates,  who  retired  from  the  wotld  and  lived 
in  a  tab,  the  back  of  which  he  turned  to  the  wind  and  lain, 
and  the  front  to  the  ami.  Some  hwiten  come  by  and  ]axif^ 
at  him  while  he  is  loosing  himself.  He  says  to  them,  aa 
they  stand  between  him  and  the  sun,  "  What  ye  cannot  give 
do  not  take  away." — ^They  insult  him  again,  and  endeaTOur 
to  remove  his  habitation;  but,  not  being  able  to  effect  it, 
desire  him  to  lomove  his  vile  carcase,  that  he  might  not 
ofihnd  the  king,  who  was  coming  that  vray  to  hunt.  He 
tdls  them  that  "their  lord  is  not  his  loid,  but  rather  the 
aervant  of  his  servant."  Hie  Idng  converses  with  him,  and 
be  explains  his  saying,  &c. 

These  are  all  that  the  Latin  copy  contains.     The  foQovring 
are  suppUed  from  the  French.  ' 

27.  A  thief  breaks  into  a  house,  and,  finding  more  treasore 
&aa  he  can  carry  away,  picks  ont  the.  best  port.  He 
fbrgets  himself^  and  remains  till  day-br^k,  when  he  is 
aecnred  by  the  people  of  the  house. 

38.  BtoiT  of  Ahiaham  entertaining  the  angels. 

39.  A  philoaopheT  finds  a  tomb  inscribed  "As  I  am,  you  shall 
be.  Ice." 

30.  A  woman,  in  the  absence  of  her  husband,  sends  for  her 
gallant,  and,  wishing  to  bathe  with  him  (a  H»t  of  prehde 


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ii 

in  aatAeat  timet  to  amorous  dalliutce),  borrom  her  neigh* 
bour'i  bsthing'tub.     flee  Le  Grtuid,  tabl.  3.  455. 

31.  A  merchant  goet  on  a  visit  to  hii  brother,  who  i»  steward 
to  a  certain  king,  lliv  monarch  receives  the  merchant 
with  great  politcne*!,  and  offcra  him  a  considembte  iarm; 
which  he  reAinCK.  on  finding  that  the  king  was  in  the  habit 
(if  ipending  oil  bi«  revenues  in  time  of  peace,  and,  con- 
Moquentlv,  in  oaM  of  war,  couhl  only  deEcnd  himself  by 
luvj^ing  heavy  eontributions  on  his  subjects. 
lk'>id(Hi  the  foregoing,  there  are  soveral  tales  from  Alphcm- 

kua,  etillected  togethiir  at  the  end  of  the  earliest  collection  of 

tlie  ^Muiun  liiblM  now  extant.    It  is  the  woric  translated  by 

L'Anlon,  IS  in  Latin,  and  without  date. 


giiizcdt*  Google 


MARIE'S   LAYS. 

A  XATE  critic  (Mr.  Rlfaon)  hits  denied  the  ArmoHcoa  orifpn 
of  these  laja;  but  it  is  quite  needless  to  discuss  liis  opinions 
concerning  a  work  which  he  had  manifextly  taef^lected  to  read 
or  was  unable  to  umdergtoitd.  It  will  be  shorter  and  less 
tiresome  to  lay  before  the  reader  an  abstract  of  the  whole 
culleetion.  which  is  in  many  respects  interesting,  because  it 
was  certaijily  written  in  this  country;  was  sever  printed;  and 
is  known  to  exist  only  in  one  manuscript,  vis.  HarL  MSS. 
No-  978. 

The  lays  are  twelve  in  number,  and  are  arranged  in  the 
following  order ;  1.  Guigcmar;  2.Equitan;  3.  LaiTeFreisnc; 
4.  Bisclavcret;  5.  Lanral;  G.  Les  deux  Amans;  7.  Ywonec; 
8.  Lnustic;  9.  Milun;  10.  Cbativel;  11.  Chevrcfbil;  and 
12.  Eliduc* 

About  SG  lines  at  the  bt^inning  of  the  work  are  intended 
as  a  general  prolc^e.  and  26  more  form  the  introduction  to 
the  first  lay.  This  preiatory  matter  is  written  in  a  style  of 
considerable  ohscuritj-.  which  was  perhaps  intentional,  bccansc 
the  author  defends  it  by  the  example  of  the  ancients,  and 
qnotcs  Priscian  as  her  authori^.  But  the  doctrine  which  she 
means  to  inculcate  is,  that  those  who  possess  talents  are  bound 
to  employ  them,  and  that  Rtudy  is  always  good,  as  a  preser- 
vative from  vice  and  from  affliction.  She  tells  us  that  she 
hnd  therefore  formed  a  plan  of  translating',  from  Latin  into 
romance,  smnt  good  kUlon/;  but  found  that  her  project  had 
bccu  anticipated  by  others.  Slie  then  thought  of  the  nume- 
rous lays  which  she  had  heard,  and  /uul  care/ulfy  Ireatured  in 

*  .Ml  these  have  been  ptinttd  in  Koqnefort'f  edition  of  the  worl:t  of 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


46  IltTRODUCTIOir. 

her  mMtory.  These,  she  was  sure,  must  be  new  to  the  gene- 
rality of  her  re&den;  and  in  this  confidence  she  o&en  to  the 
king  (probably  our  Henry  III.)  the  fruits  of  her  labours. 
Alter  complaining  that  she  has  met  with  envy  and  persecu- 
tion where  she  dnerved  praise,  she  declares  her  intention  to 
persevere,  and  to  relate,  as  briefly  as  possible,  such  stories  as 
she  htotei  to  be  true,  and  to  have  been  Jvrmtd  into  lay*  by  the 

Les  contes  ke  jeo  sat  verrait, 
Duni  li  Brtiwt  <mtfint  hi  lau, 
Vus  cooterai  asez  loiefment,  Sic. 

No.  1.  GuigonAr. 
TioB  Ibt,  consisting  of  942  lines,  baraig  been  fiutf[fii% 
analysed  by  Le  Grand,  apd  beantifUly  tnmslated  by  Way, 
nqvires  no  forther  notice  in  this  place. 

No.  2.  Equifan.  282  lioes. 
Kquitan  was  a  prince  of  Bretagne,  wiio  wu  bo  pasmonately 
attached  to  the  amusements  of  chivalry,  that  he  caied  neitlier 
for  businev  nor  gallantry.  Nothing  but  die  necessity  of 
hiJjTig  Ji^  tro^s  could  witlidraw  him  from  tlie  pleasurea  <d 
hunting  and  hawlangj  and  the  \riiole  business  of  the  slate 
wu  managed  by  his  steward,  a  man  of  equal  loyalty  and 
experience.  Uidbrtunately  1^  steward  had  married  a  bean- 
tifol  wife.  The  prince  heard  ber  much  praised;  admitted 
that  these  pruaee  were  deserved;  and  insensibly  began  to 
think  bis  hunting  and  hawking  most  ^reeable  when  it  con- 
ducted him,  at  uie  end  of  the  day,  to  his  steward's  castle, 
^ere  he  bad  a  natural  opportunity  of  seeing  and  conversing 
with  the  lovely  hostess,  Eqnitan  was  overcome  by  his  pas- 
sion almost  before  he  was  oonscions  of  bdng  in  love:  he 
began  by  reflecting  with  shame  and  remorse  on  lihe  baseness 
of  the  part  which  he  was  preparing  to  act,  and  ended,  as 
usual,  1^  detennining  not  to  endure  the  nuBery  of  privation 
and  disappointment,  if  be  could  sucoeed  in  seducing  the  wile 
of  his  fnend.  Having  devised,  in  the  course  of  a  sleepless 
night,  as  many  arguments  as  were  necessary  to  satisFf  his 
own  moralitr,  and  formed  a  plan  for  securing  a  long  inter- 
view with  his  mistress,  he  set  off  for  the  <£ase ;  returned 
after  a  short  time  under  pretence  of  a  sudden  indisposition; 


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KAXIX'S  I^TB.  47 

and,  redring  to  hii  bed,  teat  to  request  a.  Tint  titan  the  hiy, 
who  peiii^iB  waa  not  miidi  eurpnsed  at  reoeiving  from  the 
inyalid  a  veiy  long  and  eloqneat  deaUration  of  his  pasetan. 
To  this  she  replied,  in  the  first  instance,  by  Tery  proper 
expostulatiiau;  but  when  at  length  the  enamoured  Equitan 
■asured  her,  with  die  uteost  solemnity,  that,  if  her  huaba&d 
wea;e  oat  of  the  iray,  he  would  ^adly  make  her  the  partiier 
of  his  throne,  ehe  suddenly  gave  way  to  ^  splendid  ofibr, 
and  pnqioaed,  with  his  aariatanoe,  to  destroy  the  steward  » 
artfiil^  diat  neither  aotor  in  die  j4ot  riKmld  mcnr  the  eli^tteft 
anqwflnm.  Eqaitan,  tar  from  Mug  startled  by  thia  atrocioai 
proposition,  readi^  aaenred  her  of  his  concurrence,  and  she 
omtinued  thus  :  "Betam,  air,  fiir  the  prewnt,  to  your  court; 
then  come  to  piiieae  your  diversion  in  this  ibrest,  and  again 
take  im  your  abode  under  our  roof.  Yon  must  once  more 
pretend  ta  be  indiapoeed;  cauae  yourself  to  be  blooded;  and 
on  the  third  day  order  a  balh,  and  invite  my  husband  to  bathe 
and  afterwards  to  dine  with  you.  I  will  tfdce  care  to  prg>are 
die  bathing-tube.  That  which  I  destine  for  him  ahall  be  Wed 
with  boiling  water,  lo  that  he  will  be  instantly  scalded  to 
death ;  after  which  you  wiQ  call  in  your  attendanta  and  his, 
and  e^Iain  to  Uiem  that  your  afi^tionate  steward  had  sud- 
d^y  expired  in  the  act  of  bathme."  The  prince  readily 
ccmaented  to  take  his  part  in  this  diabolical  plM,  and,  at  the 
end  of  three  months,  every  thing  waa  arranged  for  its  execu- 
tion. The  baths  were  actually  filled  and  placed  before  the 
respective  beds;  but  the  steniird,  who  had  risen  early  in  the 
morning,  for  some  purpose  of  bnsiness  or  amusement,  hap- 
pening to  stay  ratlmr  beyond  the  appointed  time,  the  two 
kiTera  had  met  duiing  his  ahautce,  an^  foi^etting  that  their 
gniltF  prcjeet  was  not  yet  aooompliebed,  had  proceeded  to 
satiafy  their  mntoal  paseion.  A  maid  was  stationed  at  the 
door,  near  which  stood  the  fatal  bath ;  but  the  husband  return- 
ing wTth  precipitation  suddenly  forced  open  the  door,  in  spite 
of  her  feeble  oigKwition,  and  ^scovered  hie  wife  in  the  anna 
of  Elqnitan.  The  prince,  under  the  firet  impulse  of  surprise 
and  remorse,  started  £:om  the  bed  at  the  appearance  of  his 
steward,  and,  heedkaely  plunging  into  the  boiling  bath,  was 
instantly  suffocated  or  seeded  to  death.  The  hnsband,  almost 
at  the  same  instant,  seixed  on  the  guQIy  partner  of  his  bed, 
and  threw  her  headlong  after  her  paramour.     Thus  were  the 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


48  iHTBODUcnosr. 

wicked  puniahed  by  Ae  meaiu  whidi  diey  liad  derwed  for 
tJie  dMtructioii  of  another;  and  Mich  ii  the  Rubatunce  of  the 
lay  wliich  wu  compoaed  by  the  Bretoiu  under  the  name  of 
i'^tuitan. 

No.  3.  Lai  Ic  Froisnc.  528  lines. 
Thill  lay  wu  tranalatcd  into  Endish  by  Knne  unknown  but 
IKtU'ly  contemporary  writer;   and  this  reraion.  wlucb  still 
('LiHt*  in  tlte  Aucb)n!(>ck  MB.,  having  been  Idndiv  comnuini- 
eutt'd  to  nie  by  uiy  friend  Sir  Walter  Scott,  it  wdl  he  found    , 
umoiig  tho  miicelUneouB  nnuoncea  of  the  present  collectioit.  I.  '■ 

No.  4.  Bisclaveret.  318  lines. 
Oiu-  author  informs  tu  that  thin  is  the  Breton  name  for  an 
niiiuial  which  tho  Normanii  coll  Gorwolf;  and  adds  that  fbr- 
mci'lv  niPn  wore  frequently  metamonihoecd  into  this  beast, 
and  fluriitft  Biieh  timet)  were  the  most  ferocious  and  dcRtnictiTe 
of  the  inhubitanta  of  the  forest.*    She  then  proceeds  to  her 

ITicre  lived  formerly  in  Bretagne  s  baron  who  was  comely 
in  his  pcnion,  wiito,  oourteons,  adored  by  his  neighbours, 
much  bl'loved  by  his  sowrcifjn.  and  married  to  n  noble  and 
)K'uutif\il  ladv,  for  whom  ho  felt  the  warmest  afibction,  which 
Hhc  appeared  to  return  with  equal  sincerity.  But  iihe  had 
iilMoiTi'd  tlmt  her  husband  ivas  regidarly  al»cnt  during  three 

*  It  iMmi  that  thii  nipenlltiaii  (till  maains  in  BirUgiw.  "Dm* 
ruphiioD  dn  Bntooi,  (m  mimvi  homncs  n  rcritent,  pendant  U  mail,  de 
pMui  Je  lou)ui,  et  mi  pnnuieat  qadqvtfob  U  tame,  poor  n  tronmr  ■  dea 
■uvmbloei  ittl  le  ilL-mun  (M  nppoaj  pfMder.  Ce  que  Ton  dil  id  da 
>l>'i4iiLMCD(»its  rt  del  coDriM  noetunMS  da  tua  pt^tBidas  hamma  fowpit 
u'vxf  I'fi/iitt  ■'(«(  p»*  tatart  «i(>Jr«Mn>(  fttiutt  dmat  I'oiuuiUM  Arma' 
I'l'f  Hf,  nuua  nfi|>Fllo  re  qm  I'htattiire  npplHte  des  tyeamiropkrt  d'lHude 
— et  en  t|u'Hrroilote  dit  des  Nnmt."  (OrigiDU  GanloiM*  pir  La  Toor 
d'.\uvr[gue  CorrM.  cap.  2.)  Hr.  Walter,  in  \m  hblorical  racmnin  tt 
lU(3  Iriidb  banb.  quotes  the  iblknrisc  Uaea  fhaa  a  [iiiiai  deacriptin  of 
the  luMiaen  of  tlw  liuh: 

Tlie  next  ttmigc  tbaj  whidi  bk  ears 

Heccn'd,  vai  of  ame  nine  and  bean, 

Wbo  ODCe  veK  OWK  of  woftb  and  fam. 

But,  b;  eachaBtBeat,  brates  becane ; 

Kwi  wouU,  V  talM  ^;  trnA,  obtein 

Tbcir  ktBer  koBSB  ib^e  agaiM. 


j„.„^L,  Google 


IUKIX'b  U.TB.  49 

dajB  in  the  week,  and,  suspecting  Uiat  tkere  miurt  be  some- 
thmg  myBterions  in  ihia  periodical  disappearance,  resolved,  if 
powible,  to  extort  the  Bemet.  She  redoubled  hn  expre«sioos 
of  tenderness;  bitterly  Iftniented  her  frequent  intcrrals  of 
ividowed  Bolitode;  and,  affectine  to  be  persuaded  that  he 
bestowed  on  a  mifftress  the  many  uonrs  of  separation  from  his 
wile,  earnestly  conjured  him  to  cahn  her  t^prebensions  hj  the 
disclosure  of  me  truth.  The  good  baron  warmly  coniured  her 
in  his  torn  to  desist  from  an  inquiry  which  would  omy  lead  to 
their  permanent  separation,  and  to  the  extinction  of  all  her 
fondness ;  but  her  tears  and  blandishments  prevailed,  and  he 
confessed  that,  during  half  the  week,  be  becWe  a  Bisclaveret. 
The  lady,  though  she  felt  a  secret  boiror  at  finding  herself  the 
wife  of  a  wol^  dissembled  her  disgust,  and  pujsued  her 
inqniiy.  Were  his  clothes  also  transformed?  or  was  he  naked 
at  the  time  of  his  transformation  f  The  baron  answered,  that 
he  was  naked.     Where  then  did  he  leave  bis  dress?     To  this 

r«tion  he  endeaTOured  to  avoid  giving  on  answer,  declaring 
t,  should  this  secret  be  discovered,  he  would  be  condemned 
to  wear  his  brute  fonn  throng  life;  and  observing  that,  if 
she  loved  ln'm,  she  could  have  no  wicdt  to  leam  that  of  which 
the  knowledge  would  be  useless  to  her,  while  its  disclosure 
would  be  fat^  to  him.  But  ol»tinacy  is  always  an  over-nmtch 
for  rational  argument.  The  wife  stiU  insisted;  and  the  good- 
natnred  husband  ultimately  told  that,  "  by  the  side  of  an  old 
chapel,  situated  on  the  rood  to  the  thickest  part  of  the  forest, 
was  a  bush  which  overhung  and  concealed  an  excavated 
stone,  in  which  he  constantly  deposited  his  garments."  The 
wife,  being  now  mistress  of  the  baron's  &te,  quickly  formed 
ber  decision.  She  sent  for  a  gallant,  whose  love  she  had 
hitherto  rejected;  offered  him  immediate  possession  of  her 
person;  taught  him  the  means  of  confirming  her  husband's 
metamorphMis ;  and,  when  the  baron's  friends  had  finally 
renounced  all  hopes  of  his  return,  married  her  new  &TOurile, 
and  conveyed  to  him  a  large  inheritance,  the  fiiiit  of  their 
joint  treacneiT.  In  about  a  year  the  king  went  to  hunt  in 
the  forest,  and.  after  a  chase  which  lasted  ue  whole  day,  had 
nearly  run  down  the  nnfoTtunate  Bisclaveret;  when  the  pcr- 
seented  animal,  rushing  from  the  thicket,  and  running  straight 
np  to  the  king,  seized  his  stimq>  with  his  fore-paw,  began  to 
£ok  bis  feet,  and  with  ths  mont  piteous  whinings  to  implore 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


so  uraomrcnav. 

hia  jKoteeticn.  The  king  wa«,  at  fint,  dnadfnl^  b^ttaei; 
but  bn  fe«r  Mon  gtcn  way  to  pit^  and  admmtion.  He 
called  bia  fUtendanta  to  witnew  the  miracle ;  ordered  the  doge 
to  be  frhipped  off;  tolemuly  took,  the  tnute  nnder  hia  royii 
protection;  and  returned  to  bie  palace,  clon^  followed  by 
hia  Mvage  attendant.  Bieclaveret  aoon  bacanie  an  nmreraal 
bTonrite;  he  was  fed  with  the  greatest  care,  riept  in  the 
royal  apfU'tmenta,  and,  thoi^b  inde&tigable  in  bis  attentioae 
to  die  King  his  master,  returned  with  gratitude  the  caresses 
cf  the  courtiers,  who  admired  and  esteemed,  withoot  enrying, 
hii  Buperior  intelliffeace  and  aeoomplishments.  At  lengtA  the 
kins  having  tfaooght  fit  to  summon  a  plenar  court,  bis  barons 
flocked  Erom  all  quarters  to  the  festiral,  and,  among  the  rest, 
the  husband  of  the  felae  lady.  No  one  had  thought  of  paying 
the  least  attention  to  Bisclaveret,  whose  gentleness  was  even 
more  remarkable  than  bis  sagacity:  but  no  sooner  did  the 
knigbt  make  his  appearance  thsn  the  ■tiimgl  attacked  him 
with  the  greatest  Any,  and  was  scarcely  prevented,  even  by 
the  int^-poeitioii  of  the  king  bimself,  from  tearii^  him  to 
|dece8.  ^e  same  scene  occurred  a  second  tdme,  and  occasioned 
mfinite  surprise;  fbr  all  agreed  that  Bisclaveret  must  have 
bad  good  reastnui  fbr  his  conduct,  though  it  was  not  easy  to 
conjecture  what  injury  be  had  received.  Not  long  after  this 
the  king  went  to  hiut  in  the  forest  where  ^e  animal  bad  been 
fbnnd;  and  the  wioked  wife,  as  Indy  of  the  manor,  having 
sent  bcfbie  her  a  magnificent  present,  set  forth  to  pay  her 
court  to  her  sovereign,  BisclaTeret  saw  her  approach,  flew 
tipon  her,  and  instantly  tore  her  nose  from  ber  &ce.  Tbia 
act  of  discourtesy  to  a  iaij  excited  universal  indignation ; 
crren  the  king  himself  took  part  against  his  &vounte,  who 
would  have  been  punished  with  instant  death,  but  for  the 
interforcnce  of  an  aged  counsellor.  "Tltis  lady,  sir,"  said  he 
to  the  king,  "was  the  wife  of  that  knight  whom  you  so  ten- 
derly loved,  and  whose  unaccountable  disappearance  yon  have 
so  long  regretted.  7^  baron  whom  Bisclaveret  first  assaulted 
is  ber  present  husband.  Your  &Tourite  animal,  whose  gen- 
tleness and  sagacity  appear  nearly  human,  becomes  ferocunis 
only  on  Ae  appearance  of  these  two.  There  is  certainly  some 
mystery  in  this,  which  the  hui^,  if  imjsisoned  and  interro- 
gated, could  probably  discOTer.  Britany  is  the  country  of 
wonders^ 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


)UBI1'»  LhXB. 


Qoi  en  Bretugne  est  sreaa." 
Id  cRBplttnea  vitli  Hdx  adricw  lite  btdy  was  pot  in  dote 
flonfineinait,  the  wbole  secret  extorted,  and  the  dotlies  of 
KsdKTCret  chilj'  nstoied.  Bnt  when  they  were  brought 
befcn  hin,  tlte  udmal  appeared  to  Bmrey  them  wiUi  liatleM- 
neaa  and  inattention;  and  the  kjng-  had  ^:ain  recoorae  to  Ida 
■i|»eitt  comMellor,  iy  wfaoee  advice  they  were  tranaferred  to 
the  loyal  bed-dumber,  where  Bisclavetet  waa  left,  witihout 
wituueca,  to  eSfeet,  if  possible,  bis  metamcnphoais.  Id  doe 
time  the  king,  attended  bj'  two  of  hia  barons,  repaired  to  the 
(bunber,  and  finmd  the  fangbt,  in  Us  natural  form,  asleep  on 
Ae  loyal  bed.  Hia  master  immediately  emlnnced  him  with 
the  utmost  ftfifection;  restored  all  bis  estates,  added  more, 
and  baniabed  the  wicked  wife,  together  with  her  paramonr, 
ftom  tibe  ctnmtry.  It  is  remarkable  that,  after  her  accident, 
ahe  became  rery  prolific,  and  bore  eereral  childreit,  aO  of 
whom  wvre  females,  and  distinguiBhed  by  liie  disagreeable 
■i^alarity  of  being  bom  withoot  noses.  Be  assuied  ibat 
this  adfentnre  is  atriotly  trae,  and  that  lite  lay  of  BisclaTcret 
was  oranposed  fbt  tite  pnipoae  of  ™"^'"g  it  known  to  the 
Mtevt  poslBHly. 

No.  6.  LannL  646  lines. 

Tor  the  anbstaaee  of  this  lay,  abo,  the  reader  is  referred 

to  Le  Grand's  eollection  of  fttl£anx,  and  to  Way's  trans- 

ktMBL 

No.  6.  Les  deux  Amanta.  242  lines. 
In  Neostria,  now  caDed  Nonnandy,  is  a  md^  moontain  ot 
anasnal  height  and  verdure,  oalled  UK  mountain  "of  the  two 
lovera,"  in  omueqnenee  of  an  adrentme  to  «dii(^  it  gars  nie, 
isd  of  which  the  Bretons  have  fiinned  a  1^.  (3oae  to  it  are 
the  remainB  oi  a  oily,  now  reduced  to  a  fiew  booses,  bnt  fer. 
Beriy  ofoieait,  fonnded  by  the  king  of  the  Pistnins,  whenee 
it  was  called  Depistieiiis,  and  ihe  ne^^ibonniig  vaOi^  Val  de 
Fiatre.  Iliis  long  had  an  only  dan^rtnc,  whmn  he  lorcd  with 
andi  taademeas  that  be  conU  not  bear  to  be  aepaiated  fren 
her,  Widt  a  view  to  check  the  pnrsaitB  of  the  umas,  whom 
ber  bean^  and  acconq^ishmcBta  attracted,  he  pnbbdied  a 
jegee,  that  ha  hand  i^undd  Bem  be  gnoted  bnt  to«nitgv 
m  2 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


52  urrBoDrcnoTT. 

who  should  be  able  to  carry  her,  widiout  restiog,  from  the 
bottom  to  the  tap  of  the  adjoiniiiK  mountain.  Many  attempted 
the  enteipriee,  for  presumptiou  is  coimnon;  none  achieved  it, 
because  its  execution  was  barely  possible.  The  suitors  disap- 
peared, one  by  one,  and  the  beautiful  princess  seemed  doomed 
to  eternal  celibacy.  There  was  one  youth,  the  son  of  a  neigh- 
bouring baron,  who  was  a  favourite  with  the  king  and  with 
the  whole  court,  and  whose  assiduities,  which  were  dictated 
by  an  unconquerable  and  sincere  passion,  ultimately  gained 
the  lady's  warmest  ofieetious.  His  discretion  was  such,  that 
their  mutual  afibction  was  long  a  secret  to  all  the  world:  but 
this  discretion  became,  at  length,  almost  iatolerable ;  and  the 
youth,  hopeless  of  fulfilling  the  condition  which  alone  could 
obtain  the  hand  of  his  nustrcss,  earnestly  conjured  her  to  fly 
with  him  from  her  father's  court.  To  this,  however,  she 
would  not  consent;  but  suggested  a  mode  of  accomplishing 
their  wishes  more  compatible  with  her  filial  piety.  "  I  have," 
said  she,  "a  rich  aunt  who  resides  and  has  studied  during 
thirty  years  at  Salerno.  In  that  celebrated  school  she  has  so 
completely  acquired  the  art  of  medicine;  has  learned  so  many 
lalves  and  druga;  has  so  studied  her/»  and  tvoU,  that  she  vrill 
be  enabled  to  compose  for  you  eieetuariea  and  drinkM  capable 
of  conununicating  to  you  the  degree  of  vigour  nccesseiy  for 
the  accomplishment  of  the  .trial  pTcscribed  by  my  fiiuier's 
law.  To  her  you  shall  bear  a  letter  from  me,  and  at  your 
letuiB  yon  shtul  demand  me  from  the  king  on  the  terms  to 
whidi  he  has  himself  assented."  The  lover  thanked  her; 
went  home ;  provided  the  necessary  assortmeut  of  rich  clothes, 
and  other  merchandize,  of  palfreys,  beasts  of  burthen,  and 
attendants,  and  set  off  for  Salerno.  His  mission  -waa  per- 
tee&j  successful.  The  good  aunt's  electuaries  rendered  him 
mn<si  more  athletic  than  before ;  and  he  brought  wilh  him, 
in  B  Knoll  viol,  an  elixir  capable  of  instantly  restoring  the 
Strength  at  the  moment  of  complete  exhaustion.  Ho  there- 
fere  returned  frill  of  confidence,  and  claimed  the  trial;  which 
was  granted.  The  king,  having  summoned  all  his  principal 
TUsda  to  behold  the  ceremony,  conducted  his  dau^ter  into 
&  gnat  plainon  the  banks  of  the  Seine,  and  found  the  youth 
slreii^  stationed  at  the  foot  of  the  momttain.  The  lovely 
princcK  had  scarcely  tasted  food  since  the  departure  of  her 
iOTVt;  she  would  gladly  haro  vaated  henelf  to  the  lightacsa 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


Li 


XUUB  I  UlY9.  53 

nt  air  for  tho  pnrpose  of  dimiiuHhiiig  his  labour.  Of  dotbes 
she  wore  none,  excepting  a  shift  which  closely  enveloped  her. 
Eer  lover  catching  her  up  with  one  hand,  and  beonog  the 
precions  vial  in  the  other,  appeared  perfectly  imcoiucious  of 
the  burthen,  and  bore  her,  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning, 
more  than  half  way  up  the  moontain:  but  here  liiG  princeM 
perceived  that  hie  breath  bc^an  to  Ml,  and  earnestly  conjured 
him  to  have  recourse  to  hu  medicine.  He  replied  that  he 
was  stilt  ftiU  of  vigour;  that  he  was  too  much  within  eight  of 
the  multitude  below;  that  their  cries,  on  seeing  him  stop 
even  for  an  instant,  would  annoy  and  dishearten  him;  ana 
that,  while  able  to  proceed  alone,  he  would  not  appeal  to 
preternatural  assistance.  At  two  thirds  of  the  heignt  the 
irincees  felt  him  totter  under  the  wei^t,  and  again  repeated 
earnest  entreaties.  But  he  no  longer  heard  or  listened  to 
ner:  exerting  his  wluJe  remains  of  strength,  he  staggered 
with  her  to  the  top,  still  bearing  the  untasted  vial  in  his 
hand,  and  dropped  dead  on  the  ground.  His  mistress,  think- 
ing that  he  had  only  fainted,  knelt  down  by  his  side,  applied 
the  elixir  to  hia  lips,  but  found  that  life  had  left  idm..  She 
then  dashed  the  vial  on  the  ground,  uttered  a  dreadful  shriek, 
threw  herself  on  the  body,  and  instantly  expired.  Tbe  kii^ 
and  his  attendants,  much  surprised  at  not  seeing  the  loven 
i«tum,  ascended  the  mountam,  and  found  the  yonth  fiut 
locked  in  the  arms  of  the  princess.  By  command  of  ho" 
&ther  they  were  buried  on  the  spot  in  a  marble  coffin,  and 
the  mountain  still  retains  the  name  of  "the  two  lovers." 
Around  their  tomb  the  earth  eshibits  an  unceasing  verdun; 
and  hither  the  whole  country  resort  for  the  most  valuable 
herbs  employed  in  medicine,  which  owe  their  origin  to  the 
contents  of  uie  marvellous  vial. 

No.  7.  Ywonec.  552  lines. 
Hierc  lived  once  in  Britain  an  old  knight  of  great  opolesce, 
who  was  lord  of  Caerwent,  a  city  situated  on  the  river  Dugjas. 
He  had  married,  when  iar  advanced  in  years,  a  young  wife 
at  hij^  birth  and  bansoendent  beauty,  in  hopes  of  begetting 
an  heir  to  his  great  estates;  but  when,  at  the  end  of  seven 
years,  this  hope  iras  frustrated,  he  locked  her  up  in  his  strong 
castle,  under  the  care  of  his  sister,  an  aged  widow  lady  of 
.  great  devotion  and  a^erity  of  temper.     His  own  b.— — -—*- 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


54  »TBOinrCTio][. 

mre  confined  to  tiie  chaw;  tbote  of  hu  sister  to  € 
her  psalter,  and  (duutbog  its  contents :  tlie  yaang  U^  b 
no  mlace  but  in  her  teuB.  One  morning  in  April,  iriten  A* 
birds  begin  to  sing  Ibe  songs  of  lore,  t£e  old  genOeinan  had 
limi  early,  and  awakened  hu  sister,  -who  oar^ully  shut  the 
doors  after  him  while  he  set  forUi  for  the  voods,  and  his  yonng 
wife  began  her  usual  lamentationfi.  She  exeraated  the  honr 
when  ^le  was  bom,  and  the  ihtal  avarice  of  her  parente,  ibr 
baring  united  hex  to  ton  old  jealous  tyaast,  who  was  a&aid  of 
bis  own  shadow,  and  dehaned  her  eran  fimn  going  to  dmrch. 
8be  bad  heard  that  the  country  Toimd  her  prisam  was  onoe 
floned  fbi  adrentorea ;  that  yaung  snd  gallant  kni^ts  used  to 
^eet,  without  censure  or  impediment,  beaotiiul  and  tSeO' 
tkpnate  mistressee.  But  her  lot  was  endless  misery  (for  her 
^lant  was  ocrt&inly  immortal),  unless  the  anpreme  Disposer 
me^mto  Fdiould,  by  some  miracle,  sospend  the  lisdesaneBi  of 
her  firesent  existenoe.  She  had  scaroely  finished  this  ^acnhk- 
tion,  when  the  shadow  of  a  lai«e  bird,  whidh  nearby  inter- 
oepted  aQ  the  li^t  proceeding  from  the  narrow  window  of 
het  room,  arrested  her  attenlian.  The  bird,  a  &lcan  of  the 
largest  size,  flew  into  the  bbamber,  and  perched  at  the  foot  of 
bet  bed.  While  Ab  gaaed  on  the  ialcom,  it  gradniilly  assomsd 
Ae  figure  of  a  young  and  handsome  knight.  Sl^  started, 
dianeed  oolonr,  and  drew  a  veil  over  her  fiiioe,  but  still  gaaed 
and  listened  with  some  tear,  much  astomishment,  but  nunc 
pleasure.  The  knight  soon  broke  silence.  He  be^ed  bee 
not  to  be  oJarmed ;  confessed  that  his  mode  of  visiting  was 
new,  and  rathes  mysterious;  bat  that  a  &lcon  was  a  gentle 
and  noble  bird,  whose  figure  onght  not  to  create  suqnoitm. 
He  iras  a  neighbouring  prince,  who  had  long  known  aid 
lored  her,  and  wished  to  dedicate  the  remainder  of  his  dars  to 
her  service,  if  she  would  accept  him  as  her  lover.  The  iBdj, 
gradually  removing  her  veil,  ingenuously  told  him  that  be 
was  much  handsomer,  "^H  apparently  more  amiable,  than  any 
man  she  had  ever  seen;  taia  that  she  should  be  happy  to 
accept  him  as  lover,  if  such  a  oomieotion  could  be  Intimate, 
and  if  be  belicTcd  in  Ood.  "nie  prince  highly  approved  of 
this  scruple ;  entered  at  large  into  the  artides  of  hie  creed; 
■md  concluded  by  advisii^  that  she  should  feign  herself  siok: 
•end  ibr  her  ohajdain;  and  direct  hi'm  to  bring  the  host; 
"when,"  said  he,  "I  wiU  assume  your  a^pearanoe,  and 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


■uslu'b  I^tS.  *5 

B  yenr  atead."  ^te  kdy  vm  of  nnne 
Mtisfied  with  thia  |ax>powl;  and,  vihea  the  ou  womaa  cnae 
in  uid  EummoBed  her  to  rise,  abe  jpro&SKd  to  be  st  the  point 
of  death,  and  entreated  the  immeMate  awiMaiice  of  the  cihap> 
lain.  Sueh  a  lequaat,  in  the  abaeatee  of  her  lord,  could  aot 
be  tegularly  enuUed:  hot  a  tew  aBeama  and  a  feinting  fit 
nmored  the  wd  lad^'i  doidita,  and  ahe  hobUed  off  in  lardi 
of  the  "iigrinTT,  frho  iaunediately  heoi^^  t-ti*  faoat;  '"^^  ib^ 
duoanec  (fiir  auoh  mts  ibe  name  (^  tfie  filonLfEince),  aflmm- 
iag  the  s^fieanuMe  of  bia  miAzeaa,  venttimni^  the  aaoed 
BtwGMy  witli  baoonung  derotiaD.  Tlie  lovns  noxr  eon- 
aidved  themaelTCa  oa  nan  and  wife,  ntd  acted  awnadiariy. 
Hie  la^^a  aagipoaed  <Hn*—  enabled  die  nrinoe  to  pntiBot  bia 
nak;  tmt  ^ungtlt  ifao  suaaent  of  acfantianAame,  and  Hm 
Imif  c^nawd  Iwr  widi  for  the  fteqaent  npetitaon  of  dieiir 
JBterviewB.— "Noflnng  ia  ao  ew,"  said  Holdmnatec:  "iriiea- 
mer  jva  vsfnm  an  ardent  wim  to  aee  lae,  I  AaU  inataaitlj' 
be  widi  jva.    ^t  hewne  of  tbnt  old  -wcanan.    She  irill  [bo- 


hahlf  dtaeonr  our  secret,  and  betray  it  to  her  hnilhw; 
"««'—«"  to  you  Hiat  the  mmneDt  M  diseove^  wiQ  be  thm  u 
mj  deadk."  With  l^ieae  woida  be  flew  oS.  His  mistreaB, 
with  «Q  her  caitti<m,  waa  unable  to  conoetd  entiidy  the  com- 
plete change  in  her  aenaatioBa.  Her  Bc^tode,  formedy  so 
lAanpte,  was  beonae  the  aonrce  of  her  greater  deUgfat ;  hex 
pnaaon,  ao  loI^;  neglected,  again  beoame  on  object  of  her  soli- 
eitnde;  andlieranftdaadjaUouslmeband,  on  hia  retnm  from 
Ab  ohaaa,  often  diacorend  in  ber  featnree  the  traces  of  a 
~    i,at  which  hia  coBRcience  told  him  tiiat 


he  was  not  the  autluB'.  Hia  vagae  BuspidonB  were,  after  a 
tne,  eemmaBieated  to  his  aister;  bat  she,  who  thought  hcF- 
■elf  flie  young  lady'a  mit  companion,  and  conld  not  reproach 
hccadf  with  at^  eoHrcamg  qualities,  waa  etjoaUy  imable  to 
Mcomt  tm  hervafO'a  contented  demeanour.  At  length  the 
jeafeiiB  bnaband  commanded  her  to  conceal  herself  in  hie 
nrHe'w  ttpmrtmoA  during  his  ahaence,  to  watch  inde&tigidily, 
and  to  lepott  lAatOTCX  she  akonld  diBOorer.  Hia  orders  were 
paBOtaalfy  (rfnyed,  end  Ute  reeuk  waa  a  fbll  confirmation  41 
ril  bia  sbiiMdds.  He  now  exerted  bimeelf  in  derinng  the 
MBma  t^'vBDgcBitoe.  He  aecraCly  prepared  and  placed  before 
Ae  fUal  wiUDw  a  sort  of  tiap  ooropoaed  of  well-BbarpenD& 
■teal  airows,  and,  liab^  kmg  before  aay,  set  ofi  on  bis  nnA 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


M  ixTwaDvcnoit. 

«ccnpalicm.  Tlie  old  lady,  after  carafbl^  ahntting  die  doom 
after  him,  returned  to  her  bed  to  deep  till  day-breu ;  and  his 
'wife,  awakened  at  this  niiiuual  hour,  oould  not  refirain  from 
utteriog  an  ardent  wish  for  the  company  of  her  dear  Mnldu- 
mareo.  Her  failh&l  prince  was  instantly  at  her  side ;  but  he 
had  received  his  death  wound,  and  she  found  herself  sprinkled 
with  his  blood.  Overpowered  by  fear  and  surprise,  she  could 
scarcely  hear  him  say  that  he  died  for  her,  aiid  that  his  pro- 
phecy was  accomplished.  She  fainted  in  his  arms;  bnt  he 
conjured  her  to  preserre  her  life,  and  announced  to  her  that 
she  was  pregnant  with  a  son,  vrhom  she  must  call  Ywonec, 
and  who  was  destined  to  be  the  avenger  of  both  his  parents. 
He  then  Iwstily  departed  through  an  open  and  unguarded 
window.  His  mistreBs,  though  in  her  shift,  uttering  a  piteous 
scream,  threw  herself  out  of  the  same  window,  and  pursued. 
Ilia  flight  by  the  trace  of  his  blood,  which  the  fiist  beams  of 
morning  enabled  her  to  diBtangiush.  At  length  she  arrived 
at  a  thick  wood,  where  she  was  soon  surrounded  with  dark- 
ness ;  but  she  pursued  the  beaten  track,  and  emerged  into  a 
meadow ;  where  recovering  Ihe  trace  of  the  blood,  she  pur- 
sued it  to  a  large  city  of  unexampled  magnificence,  which  she 
entered,  and  proceeded  to  the  palace.  No  cme  was  visible  in 
Hie  streets.  In  the  first  apartment  she  fbund  a  knight  asleep. 
She  knew  him  not,  and  passed  on  to  the  next,  where  she 
found  a  second  knight  eqiully  unknown  to  her.  She  entered 
the  third  room ;  and  on  a  bed  which  almost  dazxled  her  by 
the  splendour  of  its  ornaments,  and  which  was  surnnmded  l^ 
numerous  torches  blazing  in  golden  candlesticks,  recognised 
her  dear  Muldumarec,  and  stmk  almost  lifeless  with  fotigue 
and  terror  by  his  side.  Though  very  near  to  his  last  moments, 
he  was  still  able  to  comfort  and  instruct  her.  He  adjured  her 
to  return  instantly,  while  she  could  escape  the  notice  of  his 
aubjecte,  to  whom,  aa  their  story  was  known,  she  would  be 
particularly  obnoxious.  He  gave  her  a  ring,  in  virtue  of 
which  he  assured  her  that  she  would  in  fiiture  escape  the  per- 
secution and  even  the  jealousy  of  her  husband.  He  then  put 
into  her  hands  bis  sword,  with  directions  that  it  should  never 
be  touched  by  mau  tiU  his  son  should  be  dubbed  a  knight; 
when  it  must  be  delivered  to  him  with  due  solemnity,  near 
the  tomb  of  bis  &ther,  at  the  moment  when  he  should  leara 
4he  secret  of  his  birth,  and  the  miseries  produced  by  it  to  hia 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


XAXIS'S  LATS.  57 

pBrente.  She  wonld  then  see  the  first  xue  to  which  her  boy 
would  jmt  it.  Hie  prince  hod  now  neaily  spent  bis  last 
breath  in  the  sernce  of  his  beloved  mistress ;  he  could  only 
instruct  her  by  signs  to  put  on  a  magnificent  robe  which  In 
near  him,  and  to  hasten  her  departure.  She  staggered  throu^ 
the  town,  arrived  in  the  solitary  fields,  heard  the  distant  ImeD 
which  announced  her  lover's  death,  and  sunk  exhausted  to 
tiie  grotmd.  At  length  the  air  revived  her;  she  slowly 
renewed  her  jonm^,  and  returned  to  h^  castle,  which,  t^ 
virtue  of  her  ring,  she  entered  uudistnrbed.  Till  the  birth  i^ 
her  eon,  and  from  that  time  to  the  conclusion  of  his  education, 
the  lived  in  silent  anguish,  and  in  the  patient  ezpectatioii  of 
the  day  of  vengeance.  The  young  Ywonec,  by  his  beauty 
and  addrfSB,  t^»lled  to  her  mind  the  loved  una^  of  his 
&thcr;  and  at  length  she  beheld  him,  with  a  throbbmg  heart, 
invested  admist  tbe  applause  of  all  the  spectators  with  the 
dignity  of  knighthood.  Hie  hour  of  retribution  was  now  &at 
approaching.  At  the  feast  of  SL  Aaron,  in  the  same  year, 
the  baron  was  mimmoncd  with  bis  fiimily  to  Caerleon,  where 
the  festival  was  held  with  great  solemnity.  In  the  course  of 
their  journey  they  stopped  for  the  night  in  a  spacious  abbey, 
where  they  were  received  with  the  greatest  bospitaUty.  The 
good  abbot,  for  the  purpose  of  detaining  hie  guests  during 
another  day,  exhibits  to  them  the  whole  of  the  apartments, 
the  dormitory,  the  refectory,  and  the  chapter-House,  in  which 
they  beheld  a  vast  sepulchral  monument,  covered  with  a 
superb  paH,  fringed  with  gold,  and  surrounded  by  twenty 
waxen  tapers  in  golden  candlesticks,  while  a  vast  silver  cen- 
ser, constantly  burning,  filled  the  ail  with  fumes  of  incense. 
Hie  guests  naturally  inquired  concerning  the  name  and 
quality  of  the  person  who  reposed  in  that  splendid  tomb ;  and 
were  told  that  he  was  the  late  king  of  that  country;  the  beat, 
the  handsomest,  the  wisest,  the  most  courteous  and  liberal  of 
mankind;  that  he  was  treacherously  slain  at  Caerwent,  for 
his  love  to  the  lady  of  that  castle;  that  since  his  death  his 
subjects  had  respected  his  dying  injunctions,  and  reserved  the 
crown  for  a  son  whose  arriral  they  still  expected  with  much 
anxiety.  On  hearing  this  story  the  lady  called  aloud  to 
Ywonec, — "Fair  son,  thou  hast  heard  how  Providence  hath 
conducted  ua  hither.  Here  Ues  thy  father,  whom  this  old  man 
slew  wi^  wickedness.     I  now  put  into  tiiy  hands  the  sword 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


U  OTTSODTTCTIOIT. 

cfflnrsire;  I  haive  hmt  h  kng  enoo^"  fflie  IliBn  pmoeedBd 
te  tell  hint  ti>e  nd  adTCiitaira  of  hia  birth,  and,  hanng  with 
Buioh  difficulty  conchided  her  reoital,  ^l  dead  od  t^f*  toaib  of 
kK  hiubaiid.  Ywonee,  almMt  fttmtio  with  nief  and  bosror, 
iiiftw*^  norifioed  his  hosiy  Btnt<£id)Br  to  me  manes  of  his 
pusnla;  and,  haring  onued  hit  na&a  to  be  iatened  nidi 
■uitaUe  hononn  near  tlie  boc^  at  faer  kmr,  umqtted  frtmi  hia 
•objects  the  awTO  vfaich  th^  bad  raened  for  tbe  rqseaen- 
Udm  of  a  long  line  ef  neyal  aneestoa. 

No.  8.  Lanstie.  IM  linas. 
Tbe  ontlKff  tells  m  that  this  lay  is  called  in  the  Breton 
tangne  Lauatic,*  and  in  "n^  Englidt"  the  Nifategale 
(ni^ttingale).  It  is  very  ^re31  ■mitten,  and  contains  many 
pistiiiesque  deecriptiDBs;  bemdee  i^di  it  breatliee,  throusfa- 
flBt,  that  peculiar  spirit  of  fimaal  gallantiT  which  preraOed 
in  the  twelfth  and  ttakteeolfa  eeatnries,  and  at  that  time  was 
l^Bely  to  insme  its  popidarily.  Bnt  the  adventure  it  relstes 
is  as  insipid  as  jposeiUe.  In  the  dietriet  of  St.  Malos  is  the 
town  ot  Bon,  whioh  derivea  ita  name  from  the  goodness  of 
twDkn^tswhofbrmeriydwelt  init  He  one  wasmairied; 
ikt  other  was  in  love  win  his  n^hboar'B  wife,  who  returaed 
bis  ttteetiaa.  The  bonsee  wen  so  new,  heii^  only  Bepaiated 
by  a  wan,  that  the  lorers  ooold  eanly,  from  die  windows  of 
their  re^iectiTe  beddiamlMTB,  inten^iange  Hieir  amoiona 
glanees;  talk  togetiker  wititout  betnn  orerheard,  and  eren 
toss  to  each  ^ter  little  nesents  and  symbolB  of  attachment. 
For  the  pcipose  of  enjoymg  Utis  amnsanent.  Die  lady,  dnring 
the  warm  nights  of  spring  and  Bummor,  used  to  rise  from  her 
fanriiand'B  aide,  and,  throwing  a  mantle  over  h^,  repair  to 
tiie  window  and  stay  there  till  near  the  dawn  of  day.  llie 
good  man,  mudi  annoyed  by  lliis  practice,  rouriily  asked  ber 
what  was  the  ol^ect  which  ao  constantly  ^urea  her  from  her 
bed,  and  -was  told  tiiat  it  was  Dm  sweet  voice  of  tiie  nigfat- 
ii^ale.  Having  heard  due,  he  set  all  his  servants  to  weak ; 
spread  on  every  twig  of  his  baaeb  and  diesnut- trees  a  qnan- 
ti^  of  birdlime;  ^d  set  thron^out  tiie  orchard  so  mai^ 
traps  and  springes,  that  Uie  ni^tingale  was  shortly  cau^t 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


sad  dflUfuM  to  Imn.  Iiiuiwilirtcfa  nmnhtg  to  hii  wife,  wad 
twiatbig  the  Uid'a  nadc,  be  tamed  it  into  her  boacon  m>  baaGif 
tfaat  hn  dnft  WM  rankled  witli  te  fakwd;  addii^tlMtlMr' 
eaaaynm  now  dead,  endtbat  aheai^  aitbm  deep  in 
fmet.  Tbe  la^,  who  it  secane  wm  ndt  fiatile  in  ogwdienti, 
■twitted  til  tk  lorn  of  In  K^idf  cavmHtiane,  sad  «m' 
Mntented  inth  CBsn^ialmg  facraelf  towatds  faer  lover  by  aead- 
ing  liim  the  dead  bud  inJ—cd  in  a  hn  of  iridto  mn,  «■ 
'irtMh  ahe  cratonjdared  the  fairtwy  af  Ha  &tf,  ntdhsMflnt 
fOBuaaox  oanacd  hia  nusbeai'B  peaent  to  be  incksed  in  • 
gMm  box,  ricUy  atodded  -with  goau,  wbic^  he  nowatandy 


"So.  9.  Unnn.*  536  lines. 
Milau  waa  a  ktaght  of  Sontb  Wdea.  Hia  atwm^  nad 
prowESB  were  aucb  that,  from  the  fiiat  day  ef  his  noeplidB 
Brto  the  ardet,  !>»  nercr  met  m  adTcaaniy  who  wna  aUe  ts 
unbone  h™>  Hin  rwMilatifm  aiiii  mi  £b  bemndtiie  buiduu 
of  bia  own  ooamtaT',  and  be  waa  faunm  and  ndBaiicd  ii 


(Bcodand). 

an  opulent  banm,  wlu>  bad  an  snfy  dan^der,  DBHrttaua  in  hoc 
iwMmoTii  mij  bmiiliflil  in  bin  imnaiai  Hearing  Aom  all  qnab- 
ten  the  pvisee  of  die  kiu|^  die  beeame  enaminired  of  aim, 
and  sent «  mLmaa^ta:  to  infbtin  him  ftat  her  henrt  wu  at  bis 
aerrioe  if  he  flwi^t  it  worth  his  aeoqitanDe.     Milan,  wime 


Btve  of  bis  gntitade,  sent  ner  hk  gold  xmg  as  a  ajmbcd  of  hia 
inriol&ble  cenataBOV,  and,  baning  fixed  iter  nil  asi  111^1 1  in  hia 
interests  by  ma^dfioent  pMMnts,  anai^ed  with  Imn  a  seom 
place  of  needing.  Dtear  intooonne  waa  mam^ed  so  di»- 
erctly  as  to  exinte  no  imwiininn;  bst  a£  lengtii  the  young  Itdf 


B  iBsgnant,  and,  sendinc  tor  her  lover,  represented  ta 
him  the  fetal  1  imafiniii  laiia  of  nei  iritnatinm  Sy  an  anaent 
law  of  the  coimtay  ue  was  sidgact,  at  her  fetber'a  option,  to 


E  to  be  sold  as  a  slave; 
she  saw  no  meana  of  "K^png  ibis  ^Tig^^*ft■l  ahenuti'ra. 
Mibm  listened  in  ailent  boms,  bat  conld  enggest  no  expe- 
dient, lAea  hia  miMzBsa's  old  mme  andertoek  to  ooneeal  Ae 


J  L,  Google 


60 '  unMovucnos. 

rect,  if  the  cbild  could  be  properiy  diapcMed  irf;  and  kx  tiam 
the  yoxatg  lodv  finmd  k  ready  contrivance.  She  bad  a  sister 
richly  married  in  Nortbumberland,  to  whom  Milnn  migb^ 
cftuae  the  child  to  be  conveyed,  tooether  with  a  letter  explain- 
ing all  the  circumstances  of  ita  birth,  and  Milun'a  gold  ring', 
by  means  of  which  it  mif^t  in  due  time  diacover  and  make 
itielf  known  to  itaparents.  This  arrangement  was  adopted, 
and  succeeded,  like  young  lady  was  safely  delivered  of  a 
boy;  the  ring  was  hung  about  his  neck,  together  with  a  purse 
containing  th£  letter;  he  was  placed  in  a  soft  cradle,  swathed 
in  the  finest  linen,  with  an  embroidered  pillow  under  his  head, 
and  a  rich  coverlid  edged  with  sable  to  protect  him  from  the 
cold.  Milun,  in  delivering  him  to  his  attendants,  ordered 
that  during  the  joum^  he  should  stop  seven  times  iu  the 
day,  for  the  purpose  of  being  washed,  suckled,  set  to  sleep, 
and  again  replaced  in  the  cradle.  The  nurse,  and  all  the 
servants  who  attended  him,  had  been  selected  with  great  care, 
and  performed  their  charge  with  fidelity ;  and  the  Northum- 
brian lady  assured  her  sister,  by  a  letter  which  was  brou^t 
back  by  ike  same  trusty  persons,  that  she  accepted  the  charge 
with  pleasare.  This  point  being  thus  settled,  Milun  left  his 
oaatle  for  a  short  time  on  some  military  businew,  and  during 
Us  absence  the  young  lady's  &thec  resolved  to  bestow  her  in 
marriage  on  a  nei^bouring  baron.  She  was  now  almost 
reduced  to  despair.  Her  lover,  to  whom  she  was  more  than 
ever  attached,  vras  absent ;  she  had  no  possible  asylum  against 
the  authority  of  her  fether ;  to  avow  to  her  new  husband  what 
had  happened  was  imposaihle,  and  to  conceal  it  from  him 
extremely  difficult  But  she  was  compelled  to  submit.  The 
marriage  took  place ;  and  Milun  on  his  return  was  scarcely 
less  distressed  than  his  mistress,  till  he  recollected  that  Bh« 
was  still  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  that  he  might  periiaps  be 
able  to  devise  some  means  of  procuring  an  interview.  He 
bad  a&vourite  swan,  hmg  accuBtomed  to  feed  out  of  his  hand. 
Having  written  and  sealed  a  letter,  he  tied  it  round  tbe  neck 
of  the  bird;  and,  finding  that  it  was  efiectnally  concealed  by 
the  feathers,  called  to  him  a  &vourite  servant,  and  directed 
him  to  repair  to  the  lady's  babitatitBi,  to  devise  some  ccn- 
trivance  for  gaining  admission  to  her,  and  to  deliver  the  swaa 
into  her  own  hands.  Tite  man  executed  his  commissou  ynA 
groM  ii^enuity.     Ue  represented  himself  to  the  porter  of  the 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


XASIK'B  1.^78.  .61 

castle  as  b  poacher;  stated  that  he  bad  just  canght  a  fine 
swan  cloae  to  Caerleon;  and  that  he  much  wished  to  eon.- 
eilurte  the  fdture  intercesaioii  of  the  lady  by  preaeDting  it  to 
her.  The  porter,  after  some  hesitation,  irent  to  explore  the 
aatichaiiiber;  and,  finding  in  it  only  two  kni^ts  who  were 
intent  on  a  game  of  chem,  tetumed  immediately,  and  con» 
dncted  the  man  to  hia  lady'a  apartment;  which,  on  tiis  knock- 
ing, was  opened  to  them.  Having  graciously  accepted  the 
present,  she  was  going  to  recommend  the  swan  to  the  care  of 
oneof  hcTTalets;  but  the  messenger  observing  "that  this  was 
a  ny&l  bird,  who  would  only  accept  of  food  fiiom  her  own 
hand,"  and  desiring  her  to  caress  it,  she  soon  perceived  the 
letter,  and  changed  colour;  bnt,  recovering  herself,  dismissed 
the  mesaenger  with  a  present,  and  turned  out  her  own  atten- 
dants, excepting  one  maid,  and  proceeded  to  examine  the 
mysterious  letter.  It  contained  the  warmest  protestations  of 
h^  loTcr's  unalterable  attachment;  expressed  a  hope  that  ^te 
nugfat  be  able  to  point  out  a  secure  place  of  meeting;  and 
showed  her  an  easy  method  of  continuing  the  correspondence. 
"He  swan,  already  tame,  might,  by  good  feeding,  bceasily 
attached  to  her;  after  which,  if  debarred  from  meat  during 
three  days,  he  would  whem  set  at  liberty  take  wing  and  return 
to  his  old  nuuter."  After  HamTig  the  welcome  letter  till  sho 
had  nearly  obliterated  its  contents,  she  proceeded  to  put  in 
practice  her  lover's  injunctions;  and  having  by  stealth  pro- 
cured some  parchment  and  ink,  she  made  an  equally  lender 
reply,  which,  being  tied  round  the  swan's  neck,  was  rapidly 
and  &ithfblly  conveyed  to  Milnn.  During  twen^  years  the 
happy  lovers  kept  up,  by  means  of  this  bird,  a  regular  cttt- 
tesptmdenee,  and  their  frequent  interviews  were  managed 
wiui  a  secrecy  which  secured  them  against  detection.  In  the 
mean  time  their  son,  after  receiving  an  excellent  education, 
had  been  dnbbed  a  kniriit,  and  had  Teamed  from  his  aunt  the 
name  of  his  fother,  and  the  mystery  of  his  birth.  Inflamed 
with  a  noble  ambition,  he  resolved  instantly  to  set  off  for 
fbreign  countries,  and  to  surpass  his  sire  in  militaiy  glory. 
On  the  next  day  he  communicated  the  project  to  his  aunt, 
^iriu}  did  not  &il  to  eive  him  a  number  of  instructions  ibr  his 
fiitore  oonduct,  which,  lest  he  should  ka^t  them,  she  repeated 
more  than  once,  and  accompanied  her  admonitions  with  suidi 
libcanl  presents  as  wodd  emidile  him  to  rival  in  splendour  the 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


rMmt  of  ta«  onnpetiton.  ^  repaired  to  SoathamptDB; 
Imded  at  Barbefinet  (Barflenr);  pMnd  into  Biitanj;  en- 
MMd,  by  liu  genenwitj,  a  nmnerona  attendance  of  poor 
Mmghta;  edipaed  tlie  proiideat  of  hia  rtvala  by  mpenor  fibft- 
rali^;  TBnqiudied  tiie  etonteat;  gained  tbe  priae  in  erery 
tournament;  and,  dum^  he  concealed  hia  name,  waa  quickly 
ImowB  throogh  ttae  oovntiy  by  the  tqipellatuni  of  "  tlte  kn^ht 
irifhont  a  peer."  The  &iiie  of  this  yonthird  wamor  at  leoeth 
nadied  the  eara  of  hia  &thsr.  From,  the  first  nunncsit  of  hia 
beatriding  a  hognw,  tiiM  father  bad  never  encountered  an 
cqnal;  and  aa  he  Ousted  that  ^e  had  added  to  his  addreea 
more  than  it  had  yet  subbatJted  from  his  vigoar,  he  hoped  ta 
fton,  by  the  trmibiow  ot  the  peerieaa  but  unknown  luugfat, 
that  hia  high  renown  waa  owing  to  the  Bhsence  of  Milun. 
After  tfais  es^oit  he  meant  to  go  in  quest  of  hia  son,  wboea 
departara  into  foteiRn  oooutriea  had  been  lately  oomnumi- 
onted  to  him;  mnA  haring  obtoined  the  permiasion  of  ^"T 
miatreaa,  he  enihaiked  for  Nonnasdy,  and  thence  proceeded 
into  Bretagne.  Ihe  tonmatnmta  ma  not  begin  till  the  fea- 
tival  t£  Eaat^.  Hilun,  therefbre,  who  had  arriTed  beibie  the 
nd  of  wintBT,  Bpoit  the  interval  in  trarelling  from  place  to 
^aee,  in  nunnaing  honitalit;,  and  in  aean^i^  out  toe  most 
ataritorioua  knights,  whoei  aa  attaclud  to  himadf  by  hia 


Hbarality. 

Uiehel,  and  was  attended  by  cnnrda  of  kni^^its,  EVratch, 
Flemiak,  Norman,  and  Breton,  thon^  by  very  few  Engliah. 
Mihm  inqniied  minntely  into  the  ansa  and  devicea  of  the 
otknown  Kid{|^t,  uid  utd  ao  difficnUy  in  paooaring  amfie 
inftimHttiaD.  The  touniamenft  beggm.  Hie  4wo  rivua  aepa- 
mtdy  aeqaiied  a  mamfeet  wapaioB)^,  and  bore  down  all  who 
<^ipoaed  them;  but  the  opuuemit^  ma  asMmbly  were  divided 
faetwMn  the  two.  The  atrength  aad  addnea  of  the  veteiaa 
i^teved  invineiUe,  jet  the  Biqi|daMaa  and  aetivi^  of  the 
TQvth.  •ttiaotod  atiU  man  aidmintiim.  Even  MHan  himadf 
beheld  him  with  a  mixtoie  of  wosdet  and  ddi^t,  and  amn- 
■UBcd  tit)  hia  skill  and  alraMtUi  whan  he  rode  to  axoauter 
Aia  fccmidable  adronary.  ma  sptn  waa  too  wdl  directed 
to  miaa  ita  aim;  but  it  flnr  into  a  *'■"""'  gplintara,  whBa 
ftat  of  the  yoa^  niMinad  estira,  and  threw  him  at  hbib 
dialanee  iqNiii  the  gKNmd.  By  &e  vkileDee  cf  tha  diock  the 
Ttail  of  bi«  UuBtvBB)KokaD.a^aiiddi^)i9edhiabeeid 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


9  MQOdM  ff!t^^  "wiUi  i^v  ^raon  ow  youth. 


vemooBt,  ei^MMMg  bos  regret  at  harhig  by  hii  iBcidcBtri 
inebaj  mllied  the  ftme  of  a  itmpectMe  TvtaraD.  Mihsi. 
■urreyiag  him  vidi  incrcwnd  wbniratKai,  dncorcred  <m  Us 
flager,  wule  he  beld  the  nm,  his  cfwb  ling,  and  eameath- 
M^n»d  him  to  nlate  hie  histmy  &nd  the  namee  of  hm 
■imtn.  The  joath  obeyed,  and  waa  proeeeding  to  tell  all 
M  knew,  when  the  old  kmgbt  again  ^Ringing  tma  hia  bom; 
and  oabdung  Kim  by  the  ikirta  ot  bis  coat  of  ""i  hailed  l*™* 
m  hia  am,  and  receind  Urn  in  hia  arms  as  he  diamoanted  to 
leqneat  dte  ^tAenak  benediction.  The  toonunne&t  beia|t 
ever,  they  retired  together  ami^  the  teaia  and  applanaea  « 
Che  awemUy,  and  retreated  to  their  inn,  iritere  HUon  rdatad 
to  hia  aon  tbe  viiole  eeriea  of  his  adr^toree.  Hie  yovDg 
nan  Ustated  tiH  the  end  with  ree^ectftil  attention;  and  Aen 
«xelumed,  "  In  ftitb,  fkir  are,  I  will  imite  yoa  to  my  mothar. 
I  wiH  kill  her  preeent  hosbuid,  aaitd  yoa  sball  many  her." 
lUs  being  arranged,  they  patted  fbr  Hw  nq^  Ondteae^ 
i*j  diey  arrirea  at  tiie  sea;  embariEed;  landed  in  Wdaa 
after  a  abort  and  pleaaant  pawage;  aad  wne  pi'oeeading  ta 
Mihin's  caatle,  what  tbey  were  met  by  ftmevenger  bearings 
letter  to  IGlnn  fivm  his  la^,  in  which  aba  aanoanoed  wa 
flpath  oi  her  buriMnd,  and  requested  him  to  natrtrm  ma  letun. 
At  thia  joyftd  news  they  hurried  cm  to  the  ladf'B  caade;  mtd 
me  had  the  aafaimebon  or  bmng  ibr  evisr  miited  to  her  lowj 
at  ^te  same  time  that  Ab  eaUaaoei  a  ami  every  w^  wottty 
<rf  ias  sccompHehed  parents.  On  this  occaaion,  mjt  mt 
aathor,  "  At  aneimt*  made  a  lay  wlddi  I  have  here  aet  dmra 
m  wriimg,  and  wfaio^  I  always  relate  with  &eeh  pkasore." 

So.  10.  OaitiveL  240  Una. 
TiOB  lay  eontama  few  mpinpwta  ^  and  la  rendered,  by  meana 
of  its  strange  and  abnpt  conGlnBion,  almost  iriwl^  nnints- 
lesting  to  modem  mders. — TiKitt  fonneriy  Uved,  at  NamtM 
in  Bretagne,  a  lady  of  aadi  exqaiMite  beauty  that  no  one  oovM 
behold  her  with  impunity.  All  the  yomig  men  ti  die  tow 
were  rivals  for  her  smiles;  but  £mir  kni^itB,  neariy  of  die 
same  age.  and  of  equal  birth  and  accompIuJunentB,  sotm 
effipaed  all  the  rest  of  their  competitoTs.  Each  of  these  fixir 
deeerred,  and  cbtaind,  a  place  m  her  afibotiaas;  bnt  tbiir 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


64  lETISOSrOTIOH. 

merits  were  so  equal  tiuit  she  was  unable  to  make  a  choice. 
At  toumameDts  she  sent  to  aU  (bur  some  mark  of  distinction; 
a  ring,  a  scarf,  a  pennant,  or  other  ornament;  and  all  ascribed 
to  hcT,  aa  mistress  of  their  actions,  the  exploits  which  they 
bad  the  good  fortune  to  perform.  It  happened  once  that 
Nantes  was  appointed  for  the  celebration  of  a  tournament  at 
the  Easter  festtval.  Crowds  of  knights  assembled  from. 
France,  Normandy,  Flanders,  Brabant,  Boulogne,  and  Anjon. 
The  four  champions,  on  the  eve  of  tiie  festiTal,  set  out  to 
meet  the  foreign  knights,  and  proposed  to  just  with  an  equal 
number:  the  offer  was  accepted,  and  tbe  contest  ended  to  the 
advantage  of  the  town.  On  the  foUowiae  day  the  four  young 
lovers  stiU  further  distinguished  themselves;  but  the  speC' 
taole  at  length  degenerated,  as  was  frequently  the  case,  into 
a  real  combat,  in  which  three  out  of  the  four  were  acciden- 
tally slain,  and  the  fourth  dangerously  wounded.  AU  four 
were  brought  back  to  the  ladv  of  their  affeetions,  who  caused 
the  three  to  be  magnificently  interred,  and  summoned  the 
best  ph3^cians  of  the  town  to  assist  her  in  her  attendance  on 
the  survivor.  Their  joint  efforts  were  at  IcngUi  successflil. 
He  became  convalescent,  and,  finding  his  passion  revive  witb 
hia  returning  health,  dail^  importuned  the  lady  for  the  pre- 
sent of  her  nand,  to  which  tJiere  now  remamed  no  otiier 
equal  claimant.  But  she  gave  him  to  understand,  that,  fuel- 
ing herself  singular  in  misfortune,  W  having  lost  in  one  day 
three  admirras  of  superior  merit,  she  wonld  not  consent  to 
bear  to  tbe  bridal  ceremony  a  heart  which  must  be  consumed 
by  eternal  regret;  and  that,  as  a  monument  of  her  grief,  she 
intended  to  conipose  a  lay,  the  title  of  which  shoidd  be  "  Lea 
quatre  Dols,"  (The  four  Qriefb).  The  lover,  instead  of  at- 
temptii^  to  argue  her  out  of  this  resolution,  only  employs 
his  eloquence  in  convincing  her  that  the  title  of  the  new  lay 
ou^t  to  be  "Le  Chaitivel,"  (The  Wretch),  because  his  rivab 
Iuk!  found  in  death  the  end  of  their  disappointments,  while 
he  vras  doomed  to  lead  a  life  of  constant  wretchedness  and 
privation.  The  lady  having  assented  to  this  change  of  title, 
d»  stixy  is  suddenly  brou^t  to  a  conclusion. 

No.  11.     ChevrefoiL  II B  lines. 

Om  poeteu  inibrms  us  that  she  haa  often  AtarJ  this  lay 

«idi  iafiidte  ddi{^  but  atates  at  the  nme  time  Qmt  she  had 

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HAsib'b  lays.  6S 

•wn  it  in  the  wrilUti  liietory  of  Tristram  and  Queen  Tiolt. 
In  &ct,  it  ia  nothing  more  than  a  single  odventnre  in  their 
histoty,  and,  in  its  unconnected  state,  would  be  scarcely  intel- 
ligible to  the  reader,  who  wilt  see  it  to  much  greater  adron- 
tage  in  tiie  notes  to  Sir  Walter  Scott's  highly  curiona  editaoB 
of  "Sir  Tristram." 

No.  12.     EUduc.    1184  lines. 

THb  is  stated  to  be  a  very  old  £reton  lay.  Its  original 
'title,  it  seems,  was  "  Quildeluec  ha  Qualadun,"  from  the 
names  of  the  two  heroines  of  the  story;  but  it  was  afterwards 
more  commonly  styled  the  lay  of  Ehduc.  It  is,  by  &r,  the 
longest  tale  in  the  whole  collection,  and  sufficiently  interesting 
to  ^serve  a  particular  description. 

EUduc  was  a  knight  of  Brctagne,  much  admired  for  his 
militaiy  prowess,  his  courtesy,  and  his  political  sagacity ;  in 
consequence  of  which  his  sovereign,  who  Wed  and  admired 
him,  was  in  the  habit  of  intrusting  to  his  solo  management 
the  most  imp(»1ant  cares  of  govemmenL  Indeed,  so  great 
was  his  influence  at  court,  that  he  enjoyed,  almost  as  com- 
pletely as  the  long  himself,  the  privilege  of  the  chose  in  the 
royal  forests.  But  the  &vour  of  sovereigns  is  always  pre- 
carious; and  so  adroit  were  the  enemies  of  Eliduc,  diat  he 
was  suddenly  deprived  of  all  his  honours,  and  even  banished 
the  country,  without  being  able  to  obtain  from  his  once  indul- 
gent master  the  privilege  of  knowing  the  crimes  laid  to  his 
chai^,  or  of  being  confronted  with  hie  accusers.  Fortunately 
he  was  in  the  prime  of  life,  fond  of  adventure,  and  not  of  a 
temper  to  despond.  He  retired  to  his  castle,  convened  his 
friends,  and  communicated  to  them  the  king's  injustice,  and 
his  own  projects;  which  were,  to  embark  for  England,  and 
there  to  enter  Into  the  pay  of  the  first  king  who  might  want 
his  assistance.  But  he  had  a  wife,  Ihe  fair  and  amiaUe 
Quildeluec,  whom  he  tenderly  loved,  and  whom,  as  he  was 
unwilling  to  cany  her  into  exile,  he  earnestly  recommended 
to  their  care  and  attenLions.  He  then  selected  ten  knights  as 
companions  of  his  adventure,  and  departed  for  the  sea-ooast, 
escorted  by  nearly  all  his  friends  and  vassals,  and  accom- 
panied by  bis  wife,  who  was  almost  frantic  with  grief  at  this 
cruel  separation,  and  whom  he  could  scarcely  reconcile  to  her 
faXe  by  repeating  again  and  again  the  most  solemn  assurances 


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66  IXZKODCOXIOIT. 

of  lnsrtaiia]«diimfUdefidd%.  JU  Icwl^  fae  cmlKliid 
vil^  iL  &ir  wind,  ntd,  lukding  at  Totnen  bi  Uevmdiiie,  [m>. 
oeeded  towards  Exets.  He  king  of  tbis  'duttiet  faad  n  «Bto 
dmgliter,  lite  LeinM  of  liii  donumam;  «id,  haring  re&Md 
to  bestow  h^  on  a  aa^bboaimg  prinoe,  her  suitor,  was  At 
that  time  involved  in  a  most  dietressfiil  war,  and  besi^ed  in 
his  capital.  Etidnc  determined  to  proceed  no  fiuiher:  he 
Bent  a  message  to  the  distresBed  tang,  offering  his  assistance, 
and  lequorted,  if  tlie  propoeal  dunild  be  rejected,  a  safc-eon- 
duct  through  the  counby.  The  king  most  gbiily  acc^tod 
tks  o&r,  and  ordered  his  constable  to  ptiepaie  a  fawse  for  tfae 
seoeptioa  of  the  wdoome  gaests,  and  to  issue  a  Boit^de  aam 
of  ^^mej,  together  with  a  supply  of  proTisione  for  tiMir 
monthly  expenditure.  Elidnc  and  his  attendsnts  wete  aug- 
mfioGDUy  entertained.  His  inn  was  lite  faoose  of  the  richest 
Imgeas  in  die  town,  and  tAe  gnmd  taptOrg  romn*  was  anr- 
TuoAeeeA.  to  tte  knight  by  its  proprietor.  Elidoc,  on  his  part, 
i*«B  equally  libeinL  He  iasoed  strict  orden  to  his  octen^nta, 
lliat,  during  the  first  ferty  days,  none  of  than  should  acoe^ 
cdtber  pay  or  proyisions  ttwa  tlte  court;  and  during  this  time 
he  kept,  at  hie  own  enense,  a  table  ^trfbaeJy  served  for  fiie 
aoBDnuBodaticn  of  sook  kni^ta  as  were  unprovided  with. 
flOicr  meana  ttf  sabaiBtenoe.  On  the  third  day  ^ter  his  animal 
an  alaiB).  was  spread  that  the  enemy  bad  i^ain  ovo'-nui  the 
fjo^iby,  and  mi^t  shortly  be  expected  at  Ue  gates.  Elidoc 
flew  to  arms;  and,  havrng  assembled  hie  ten  knights,  was 
BOm  after  joined  by  fourteen  more  from  the  difib^nt  parts  of 
the  <»ty,  who  dechwed  themselves  ready  ta  cncoonter,  imder 
his  ceDunand,  any  inequalin'  of  nmnbers.  Elidoc  praised 
tbeir  seal,  bat  obsared  that  ttiis  intemperate  valour  was  more 
fitted  for  the  lists  rf  a  tournament  ^an  for  useful  service 
in  the  field;  and  reqoeeted  that  they,  who  knew  the  country, 
'wwdd  pcnnt  out  eoBte  -defile  in  w^iich  he  could  hope  to  attack 
tlu  enemy  on  equal  tenns.  They  pmntedout  a  hoUowway 
ai  the  nm^boming  foreet,  Inr  which  the  invaders  usnaUy 
paved  and  returned;  and  EUdnc,  while  bnstening  to  the 
fbee,  desciAwd  to  fl>em  the  measures  ^riiich  he  meant  to 
pnnue,  and  exhorted  them  to  follow  him  with  vigour.  His 
axuaree  wen  so  wril  planned  and  executed,  Itut  the  fiie 


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XAXIX  I  ULTI.  ST 

viA  faootT-:  wdlbRr  ooHouaAte, 
'    "  '     '   ML  Us  nalfrn', 

ata  «t  Ito  Baow  time  aeeved  a  1m^  mnntily  <J  iMg- 
gi^e,  twd  Hw  troop  immedut^  hastened  thtnr  ntuni  t»- 
wiffds  the  ci^,  wbne,  hawerac,  their  mppentaat  eunked  mo 
gmtaU  opngtcmttian.  The  king,  hftriag  uonnted  to  «  mtdi 
towec,  hod  deaaried  lu  anall  gnrrieaa  of  kmghtB  eng^ed  in 
■ft  ichetiiiiijt  BcbM  with  very  mipeuor  nmabere;  after  vriiidi, 
HiiiiB|t  huge  te47  in  full  ukarch  for  the  city,  he  eondoded 
that  Ebdnc  had  betntyed  him;  csoeed  the  gates  to  be  d«ti 
•Ak  aiami  to  be  aouiided,  and  aomaianded  the  oitizeni  t»  ia~ 
ted  the  -wbUb.  Sot  beuig  qnicMy  vndoBeived,  he  weleomed 
Ua  d<£T«m  with  trsBaportB  cf  jay  and  gnititBde;  and,  afiar 
^wmriBg  iiis  iOath  of  alb^iaiice  for  a  year,  invested  him  wifli 
IJUt  aapssBke  militaiy  cranmand  darina  that  poriod,  and  a»- 

— ig»i«»<  — ipli-  p— Mtifn—  *n  Wijn—Jf  a.iH  nil  liJa  jttpujjgmtn        ^^|q 

knttr'a  dmightfT,  the  beanti&I  Onilliadan,  became  annoas  m 
hff  tent  to  bdnld  Ihe  extzaordinaiv  stranger,  who  on  ■Ae 
And  dar  after  faia  anival  had  gained  a  moat  isaoGrtant  tib- 
tory.  and  had  caaGnned  her  fadur  on  big  dnone,  Dy  meatia  of 
a  trot^  of  hsi^ila  .lAo  eetnt^  appeared  oompetemt  to  the 
Jrfwce  of  the  walla.  She  innted  mm  to  an  arndience,  to 
whii^  he  waa  fnviaOj'  introduced  by  one  of  her  ebiibar- 
U&a;  seated  him  nev  her  cm  a  bed;  and  entered  wilk  him 
irta  eonvenatioa  on  a  raria^  tt  indiffereot  topca.  Bnt 
baaing  tiie  diaooune  die  ootild  not  help  remaiiking  that  ttna 
caaBuBimato  waisicB'  and  stateenum  woa  a  yottng  and  hand- 
aoBB  kn^t;  ^nd  as  every  fresh  earvey  of  his  perecm  led  her 
te  dte  diaoovery  of  some  additioBal  merit,  die  at  length  finnd 
that  ho-  Iteart  was  coa^letely  engaged  to  him;  and  sitae 
a^nng,  and  tnrning  pale,  ai^  ""■l™>g  many  reflectioaB  tm 
the  indelicacy  cf  aTowing  her  pasaioii,  wmdd  probata^  faaire 
zerealed  it,  if  the  kni^  had  not,  1^  respectfimy  taking  Ua 
lewve,  put  an  end  to  the  interriew.  Elidra;,  in  the  mean 
time,  had  not  becti  bhnd  to  the  perfections  of  tlie  lon^ 
Omlliadntt.  Hcs'  youth,  her  beauty,  her  ^n^licity  and  frank- 
new  of  character,  and.  abovs  all,  thoae  artless  eigte  whidi 
hbsiulJ  him.  oi  her  afiectioii,  had  made  an  indelible  imprea- 
aion  an  his  hmt.  At  length  tlte  inume  of  his  wife,  and  tua 
r  2 

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6S 

solemn  asRurances  of  fidelity  to  her,  intemipfed  the  dream  of 
happinem  in  which  he  had  involuntarily  indulged:  but  the 
interruption  was  now  become  pain^;  and  while  he  mentally 
repeated  the  promise  of  adhenng  to  his  duty,  he  felt  that  the 
pramiBe  was  diaavowed  by  his  inclination.  QuiUiadun,  aflcr 
a  sleepless  night,  found  it  impossible  to  keep  her  secret  locked 
Tip  in  her  own  bosom,  and,  having  summoned  a  trusty  cham- 
berlain, confided  to  him  her  sudden,  and.  as  she  thought,  in- 
explicable passion.  Ailer  a  long  discussion,  she  at  length,  at 
the  suggestion  of  her  counsellor,  dispatched  liim  to  the  knight 
with  U«  usual  salutations  of  conrt^,  and  with  a  present  of 
her  ring  and  of  a  rich  girdle.  Eliduc  immediately  replied  by 
an  cqiully  courteous  message;  put  the  ring  on  hia  finger; 
bound  the  girdle  round  his  loins;  offered  a  rich  present  to 
the  chamberlain,  who  declined  to  accept  it;  but  aToided  all 
discussion  on  the  subject  of  his  message.  Ihe  impatient 
princess  was  almost  driven  1a  despair  by  the  report  of  her 
chamberlain,  who,  though  convinced  that  Eliduc  could  not  be 
insenaiblc  to  the  kindness  of  his  mistress,  was  unable  to  satisfy 
lier  mind,  or  even  his  own,  concerning  the  cause  of  such  ex- 
treme discretion.  Both,  indeed,  were  ignorant  of  the  conflicts 
by  which  the  unhappy  knight  was  agitated.  To  recall  his 
former  fondness  for  his  ^"ife,  and  to  conciliate  his  duty  and 
afibcUon,  was  no  longer  possible ;  to  betray  and  dishonour 
the  amiable  Gvilliadun  would  be  infiimous;  and  to  encoumga 
her  passion  and  his  own,  without  being  hurried  too  fiir,  was 
extremely  difficult:  yet  on  this  he  ultimately  resolved;  and, 
having  mounted  his  horse,  set  off  for  the  palace  under  pre- 
tence of  paying  his  court  to  the  king,  but  with  the  real  view 
of  obtaimng  an  interview  with  bis  daughter.  Fortunately 
the  monarch  was  at  .that  moment  in  the  apartment  of  the 
princess,  to  whom,  while  he  played  a  gome  of  chess  with  a 
foreign  knight,  he  explained  tiie  moves  of  the  game.  On  the 
entrance  of  Eliduc  ne  immediately  introduced  him  to  his 
daughter,  enjoining  her  to  entertain  and  form  an  acquaintance 
with  a  knight  who  had  few  equals  in  merit;  and  the  young 
lady,  plodly  obeying  the  injunction,  retired  with  her  lover  to 
the  lather  end  of  the  apartment  Af^r  a  long  silence,  which 
was  equally  painful  to  both,  and  which  each  ineffectually  at- 
tempted more  than  once  to  interrupt,  Eliduc  luckily  bethought 
Umself  <f  leturning  thanks  for  the  ring  and  girdle,  which,  oB 


J  L,  Google 


MA.BiEa  i^ss.  69 

he  assured  her,  he  volned  Ihr  beyond  all  his  earthly  possea- 
Bioiu.  This  warmtii  of  expresaiott  enconniging  the  pnncefls, 
she  frankly  proceeded  to  make  an  avowal  ^  her  passion,  de- 
claring that,  if  he  should  reject  her  hand,  diere  was  no  other 
sum  on  earth  whom  she  woiudever  accept  as  a  huslwnd;  and 
when  he  mysteriously  replied  that,  so  &r  as  his  wishes  were 
concerned,  there  could  be  no  bar  to  their  union,  but  that  it 
was  his  purpose  after  the  year  of  service  for  which  he  wafl 
pledged  to  her  father  to  return  and  establish  himself  in  his 
own  countr}',  she  told  him  that  she  had  full  confidence  in  his 
honour,  and  was  persuaded  that  when  the  time  arrived  he 
would  make  all  the  proper  arrangements  for  her  fbture  des- 
tiny. Thus  ended  their  interview  to  their  mutual  satisfac- 
tion, miiduc,  watchful,  ent^)riBiDg,  and  inde&tigabte,  soon 
recovered  for  her  fikther  all  the  provinces  which  had  been 
torn  from  him,  and  insured  his  future  tranquillity  by  the 
capture  of  the  king  his  enemy;  but  scarcely  was  the  war 
concluded  when  the  knight  received  an  embassy  from  his 
former  master,  whose  ingratitude  towards  him  had  been 
punished  W  the  loss  of  half  the  kingdom,  and  the  jeo. 
pardy  of  uie  rest,  adjuring  him  to  come  with  all  speed 
to  the  rescue  (tf  a  country  which  was  now  purged  of  the 
monsters  whose  fiilse  accusations  had  occasioned  his  unjust 
exile.  Such  an  embassy,  a  f^  months  sooner,  would  lure 
been  most  welcome,  but  to  part  with  Giulliadun  now  appeared 
to  him  the  heaviest  of  misfortunes.  He  felt,  however,  that 
duty  called  him  away,  and  he  determined  to  obey  the  sum- 
mons. He  went  to  the  king;  read  to  him  the  letterq  which 
he  had  received;  and  earnestly  requested  leave  to  deport, 
though  his  stipulated  term  of  service  was  not  expired ;  observ- 
ing at  the  same  time,  that  the  state  of  his  majesty's  a&irs  no 
longer  required  hts  attendance,  and  promising  that  at  the  first 
appearance  of  difficultj'  he  would  return  with  a  powerful  body 
of  knights  to  his  assistance.  The  king,  after  vainly  endea- 
vouring by  the  most  splendid  offers  to  detain  him,  unwillingly 
consented  to  his  departure ;  but  to  obtain  the  consent  of  Guil> 
liadun  was  fiir  more  difficult.  Trusting  that  she  possessed  the 
whole  heart  of  her  lover,  and  perfectly  unconsdons  that  his 
hand  had  been  previously  given  to  another,  she  insisted  oa 
accompanying  hun  to  his  own  country,  and  threatened  to 
destn^  hersdf  in  case  of  his  refusal     lier  remonatianoe* 


„.,Cooyk"- 


70  TNTBOSircTioir. 

mn  acoompanied  hy  &mtin^  fits,  i^iich  temfied  Eliduc  iota 
a  «)lemn  promise  of  Babmitttng  hnnaelf  to  her  decision,  what- 
ercr  it  might  b« ;  but  he  TepFeflenlsdtlut,)HttiiwiwonifeaUy 
to  the  king  her  father,  he  could  not  now  laka  ner  widi  him 
without  a  breach  of  hie  oath;  whereas,  if  ahe  would  allow 
him  a  respite  till  ailer  the  expiration,  of  his  term  of  aenriee, 
he  could  then,  without  disgrace,  con^ilywith  her  wiahes;  and 
he  promised,  on  tho  honour  of  a  knight,  that  if  she  would  fix 
K  day,  he  would  return  and  carry  her  off.  With  this  prgmiae 
ahe  wus  satisfied,  and  after  many  teats,  and  a  mutual  exchange 
of  ringR.  ultim&tely  permitted  him  to  depart  The  return  of 
Eliduo  to  bis  country  gare  infinite  pleasure  to  his  biends,  to 
the  king  his  master,  and,  abore  alL,  to  hia  excellent  wife,  wlw 
now  hoped  that  ahe  should  be  indemnified,  by  Ae  society  of 
her  belored  husband,  fi>r  her  long  and  dreary  hours  of  widow- 
bood.  But  aha  beheld  with  surprise  and  constematitm  that 
he  harboured  some  secret  griefs  and  anxioudy  inquired  if  air^ 
thing  in  her  eoaduot  had  given  him  diapleasiire.  Elidss 
aaaured  her  of  the  contrary,  but  told  her  in  a|niai^eonfideBCO 
that  he  was  bound  by  hia  o«&  to  retom  to  t&e  long  wbmn  ha 
had  lately  quitted,  ao  soon  as  he  ahoold  have  settled  the  a&in 
of  hisownecnmtzy;  that  hehadmnch  to«lldnre,I■nlchb>'a&- 
ooBplish;  mill  Ihat.lmiiiiwil  iiiihfma all  nidir.  lir  nhrnilrT 

aeverregain  his  fermergaie^till  he  should  have  extricated  Um- 
Hlf  from  all  his  diffienhiea.  Intiu  maatiMe,hisma«tia»e 
had  inapiied  the  enemy  with  alann;  InsreappeaiaBceatthehead 
of  the  armies  breught  hade  victory  tt  * 
■aw  ani}  seiaed  the  moment  of  malmsg 
aad,  havii^;  done  so,  prepared  ftr  die  « 
plHHUBR  entNprise.  Taking  with  him  only  his  two  n 
a  ahaawerlain  already  privy  to  hiaanMnr,  tad  a  tons^ 
all  (d*  irtiom  he  swoM  to  seeiesy,  he  emharked  Ibr  I 
stationed  his  TCSsd  at  mmaa  diatwee  from  the  haibeor  of  T 
naaa;  find,  lamting hit tfaamlMflaiii tiVrnt—^  '*■  ■«■;■«■', —nf 
tarn  with  ascnt  iaatnKtiaDa  to  dw  pciaeeas.    The  eoBfideat 


aamd  ta  the  Aamher  of  Gm&iaiaB,  infaBed  her  of  his 
laastnr'a  viival,  and  exi^amtd  to  ber  Aa  imaiurti  whiA  he 
had  devised  for  her  eaeape.     They  wailaci  fa- the  appnatA  of 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


tiw  ridmew  cf  Iter  hodbI  gannenta,  fbllomd  the  dboMboriaot 
ooit  of  the  town  ta  ft  imall  wood,  wime  Elidne,  irtio  had  dcAncd 
fai«  landing  tiB  the  evcmag,  waited  to  leceiTsber.  Thekni^t 
inateitly  pbuang  ker  on  a  bone,  ncingiiig  on  anotheiv  iad 
taknig  ner  rein  in  kb  head,  hnrried  fbnrwrd  to  tiiesea,  mad 
embatked  withovt  havui^  excited  the  ali|^rteet  KBpiacB  oC  As 
entspria^  t»  ndiich  none  were  jnvj  extepting  theee  ocdnAj' 
en  bmiid.  Soth  wind  and  tide  weie  fiivMiahle;  thejamf*! 
near  the  coaat  of  Bretagne,  and  wen  as  the  paint  a£  etrtwrng- 
the  heebcmr,  when  a  ■ndden  aqadl  frana  the  ahne  ^lit  diair 
meat,  rent  their  Mi!,  and  «»Meed  than  fir  aDiiw  henis  te^ 
moat  imminent  daBger,  All  theiv  exertisM  to  gmde  ^ 
Tcaad  bemg  ineflbetoal.  diey  had  neoatae  ts  isajera,  iDToki^ 
St  Nkhcdas  and  Sc  Clement,  and  n         -      -•      •  - 


ot  the  Ueaaed  Virgin  witlt  her  Sou,  that  tn^  lai^t  be  per— 
mitfied  to  land  in  tmSetj.  The  atocm  atill  ooBtnuied;  Men 
one  ef  the  saihxra  suddenly  exclaimed,  *'  Sir  kni^tt,  you  VMnry 
with  ytm  the  cwwae  of  on  calamily.     In  defiance  dT  God,  oC 


leligiiHi,  of  jnatiee,  and  d  haaxna,  joa  ten  earrjing  off  that 
la^,  h*Tnw  ahreadjr  a  beantifiol  and  lawfid  wife  in  your  vwn 
cowitry.     PenoitnatDthiiOTPTtnirpaiasioar  into  theMa,»id 


-we  ahtjl  qieedilj  find  onr  prmyen  efieetoaL"  The  princeaa- 
waa  then  lying,  afanoat  exhanoted  with  btigne.  nckneas,  and 
fear,  in  the  anna  of  her  lover,  who  thers&ie,  thoogh  bursting' 
widi  i^e,  could  only  expreas  it  by  exeerationa,  which  ha- 
Tented  as  loudly  as  he  could  in  tbe  hope  of  drowning  tba- 
hatefal  vdoe  of  tilie  marina.  But  the  &al  ^aurance  "  that 
Elidne  was  alruady  mairied,"  had  zeadted  the  ear  and  sunk 
dea^y  into  the  hewrt  of  QnilKwliiH,  She  feinted;  and  thoagh 
her  lover  and  hia  ftioids  employed  all  the  means  ia  tbor 
power  for  her  recovery,  they  were  unable  to  pmduoe  mty 
aynqitom  of  retaining  animation.  A  general  exdamatkat  of 
grief  proBouneed  her  dead;  yrbtai  the  kaight,  s^^rting  froaa 
ibe  ho&f,  Mtaed  an  oar,  felled  at  one  blow  the  presonqitBaua 
ooaMan.thggwhimlqrthe  toot  into  the  sea,  taxA  poancaaion  of 
the  helm,  and  directed  it  ao  skilfully  diat  the  veaael  soon  aftv 
readied  the  haibanrinMi&^.  IbeyaQ  kDded,and  in  a  very 
ftw  houn  mig^  itadi  the  castle  of  EBdnc,  whidi  was  not  flur 
ftum  the  coast;  but  irben  ooold  he  depont  the  boa^  o#  kia . 
mistresa?  how  inter  it  with  all  the  hrooors  suitable  to  her . 
laik  and  Bent?    Hnatlragth  nooUaoted  thstinthefiswt 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


)3 

ithifh  mifrmm4U^]  hia  mnwion  rfweh  am  aged  bcnnh,  «t  wboM 
M>1(  tfif  (^rrpw  fntf(bt  Tetami  till  it*  intenaeiit:  be  could  tlvn 
cnin}'  thfl  Rfirl  pkwinrf;  of  vimting  drntf  tbe  otject  cxT  bB  fan 
wJiHInflu;  nrul  he  (VUmrincd  to  fonnd  on  the  spot  an  obbej, 
In  which  K  mimbrr  of  monk*  ohoold  pnj  tat  ever  for  the  aonl 
Itt  llif  brrcly  and  tnjnretl  Onilliadim.  He  then  nvmnted  hia 
tmlfrpj'.  nml,  cnrryinft  the  bodj  in  hi*  arms,  proceeded  with 
nl#  AthmHAiibi  to  th«  bermitafcc.  The  door  ma  shot;  sud 
tiwy  (UsrtFtprrd.  nJUtr  hftviiiK  at  Inngth  procured  an  eDtrance, 
fW  irratd  nt  the  hoiy  tnMi,  *riio  had  expired  a  fow  days  before, 
ftliflud  i<niiM<(t  n  htHl  to  bo  made  within  the  chapel ;  and  plac- 
Inil  fffl  It  hlo  tnlatroM,  whoM  deadly  polencis  had  not  yet 
li\|iirp«l  her  hratity,  ho  burat  into  a  noMl  of  tears,  kissed  hei 
\ipn  nml  pypH  nx  if  in  thp  hopm  of  rcttoring  their  animation, 
DIhI  Mtlcntiity  ]miiiounocil  a  vow  that  from  the  date  of  her 
liitfirtiipiit  ht>  would  novpr  more  cxerciac  the  functions  of  a 
ktiifittli  htit,  nOfr  havinft  crtTted  an  abbey  on  the  spot  sauc- 
f  IflrHl  liv  brr  rnnnlnpi,  would  himnelf  auumo  the  monastic  habit, 
RtiU  llnlly  viRit  Itpr  tomb  to  pxpnws  his  love,  his  ^ef,  and  hia 
t-^tnoiiit'.  tip  llicn  with  difHculty  tore  himself  £rom  the  body 
fltld  i|p)Hi)'tt<iti  hnvii))t  first  nont  a  messenger  to  hia  castle  to 
MtiHiiuhpp  thnt  ho  wnn  arrinxl,  but  so  much  fatigued  and  wa^- 
umrn  «s  to  irquiiv  nothing  but  repose  and  solitude.  His  wife 
HiPt  him  with  hei  ustui)  KentlcnNs  of  aSectioo;  but  she  in- 
Ktaiitly  WW  in  hio  hopgnrd  looks  that  hia  heart  labouicd  with 
•onip  nilnery  whieti  her  tenderness  was  unable  to  remove.  His 
nmnnen)  wrerp  miph  as  to  awaken  without  satisfying  her  cuii- 
mitv.  Up  mse  nt  itayhreak,  spent  some  hours  at  prayers, 
wnlknl  nlunip  into  H»  forvst.  proceeded  iostinctiTely  to  the 
tttlal  hermitHRe,  am)  tvltimed  hile  in  tlie  erening,  beanng  with 
him,  iw  tl  ^inwwo'd.  «n  iwerwwed  load  of  miwry.  He  saw 
wtik  Mtimioltmenl  that  dewth  seemed  to  abstain  fin>m  ra^agii^ 
lhi>  ItriMltrs  ttf  Ouilliadttn;  be  inroluntuily  ga\«  way  to  the 
innsl  Itattenng  lti\{«>«{  and  after  manv  kukg  sad  boon  of  teart 
ttml  (hniltem  )HW\vr  rpticMl  ijs  an^niMh  and  difaf^Mintmcnt. 
K)#  the  lhi\i1  da^x  he  giaxv  noiiee  thai  be  should  fo  to  eooit 
mnt  |«w  the  ewniMR  with  dte  kiojr-  His  wiA'  in  the  tatmm- 
Ifwvh  t^vilM>prrtmtW4«ftiieM(«ttem|MiM;T«w«r^hada>m(4 
vwie  V4'  Wt  pfi«r«  l<^  MK^w  hb  KMsm  at  a  di^suoe  duri^  his 
ift^lrPM  'KWlk,  and  tn  nfVK  what  he  sftiMcU  mv  and  bear:  aad 
Ikt  fpN(^  ha>-u^  «•  tiM  atcittiag  lasooned  his  rmftnniinTsnis 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


iubie's  i^tb.  73 

the  determined  to  take  advantage  of  Elidnc'e  abeence,  to  visit 
the  hermitBge,  and  to  ditcover,  if  possible,  the  cause  of  that 
.  cxceasiTe  grief  to  which  he  gave  way,  and  of  which  the  death 
of  the  old  hermit,  much  as  her  husband  might  have  loved  him, 
was  iar  from  affording  a  satis&ctoF;  explanation.  She  set 
JiNlh  with  the  page,  entered  the  cfaapel,  beheld  with  much 
BOTpiise  a  bed  lundnimely  OTnamentedi  and,  on  lilting  up  the 
Goreiing,  saw,  with  still  more  astonishment,  the  yonng  and 
blooming  Guilliadun,  "  ftn  reiemhlat  rou  nucele."  The  fault- 
less beauty  of  a  living  rival  might  have  excited  some  indig- 
nation in  the  bosom  of  the  most  patient  wife ;  but  the  eyes  of 
the  lovely  abject  before  her  app^rcd  to  be  dosed  for  ever; 
and  Guildeluec  could  find  no  place  in  her  heart  fi>r  any  sen- 
timents but  those  of  admiimtion  and  compassion.  After  call- 
ing her  page  to  survey  the  spectacle  which  fully  ezplainedaud 
excused  her  husband's  immoderate  grief,  she  sat  down  by  the 
bed  to  reflect  on  the  past,  and  to  decide  on  her  own  iuture 
conduct.  During  the  long  absence  of  EUduc  she  had  devoted 
the  greater  part  of  her  time  to  religions  exercises,  and  she 
BOW  clearly  saw  that  to  them  only  could  she  look  for  comfifft 
Having  convinced  herself  of  this  necessity,  she  turned  with 
tears  in  her  eyes  to  the  feir  object  of  her  husband's  regret; 
when  a  circumstance  apparently  triflii^  involuntarily  arrested 
her  attention.  A  vessel,  creeping  from  under  the  altar,  ran 
upon  the  bed,  and,  passing  several  times  over  the  &ce  of  the 
entranced  Guilliadun,  so  fiir  incensed  the  page  that  with  a 
blow  of  his  stick  he  laid  it  dead  at  his  feet,  and  then  threw  it 
on  the  middle  of  the  floor.  The  animal  had  lain  there  only  a 
few  moments,  when  another  weasel  coming  from  the  samo 
hole  ran  up  to  its  slaughtered  companion,  attempted  for  a 
while  to  q)ort  with  it,  and  then,  after  exhibiting  every  appear- 
ance of  griet  suddenly  ran  off  into  the  wood,  and  returned 
with  a  flower  of  a  beautiful  vernulion  colour,  which  she  care- 
fully ins^ted  into  the  mouth  of  the  dead  animal.  The  efiecl 
of  the  application  was  so  sudden  that  the  weasel  instantly  got 
upon  its  legs,  and  was  preparing  to  escape ;  when  the  lady 
exclaimed  to  the  page  to  strike  again,  and  he  aimed  a  second 
blow,  which  cauB«l  the  creature  to  drop  the  flower,  that  GuQ- 
deluec  instantly  seized,  and  carefully  placed  between  thcHps 
of  Guilliadun.  The  plant  had  not  lost  its  efficacy.  Taa 
princess,  awakening  fhim  her  trance,  expressed  her  soipriae 


uL,  Cookie 


74  IVTRQSVCIIOV. 

ai  tiaving  slept  so  loav,  and  then  gued  with 
the  bed  on  whicli  she  lay,  at  the  woUs  of  the  ciiapel  bj  k 
Ae  was  surrounded,  and  at  the  two  wtlouiwii  figtira  of  Qad- 
deluec  and  the  pn^,  who  kneetin^b;  her  aide  londlym 
their  tlianksgivings  to  the  Ahnidity  ibr  what  ther  U-. 
her  miraculoiu  reionection.  At  length  the  good  Iady,h 
fiai&bed  her  derotitms,  began  to  qneetuxi  the  &ir  atr 
RSpecting  her  birth  and  precediog  adveotn^s,  when  d 
loted  wi&  the  utmost  candowc  twd  eiactness,  tiD  the  Ittai 
nuiment  when  Uie  discOTCij  of  Eliduc'a  prior  Karriage'  luwE 
deprived  her  of  sense  and  moticn.  The  reat  wm  better  knowm 
to  her  hea-etB  than  te  beraeLf;  and  Gnitdeluec,  more  and 
more  charmed  with  her  innocence  and  franknesa,  after  Know- 
ing heraelf  to  be  her  rival,  lost  no  time  in  ccsn&rting  her  \if 
the  aBBorance  that  aQ  her  hcqies  and  wishea  might  now  be 
^eedily  gratified.  " Your  youth&l beauty,"  sudshe,  "mi^d; 
optiTate  any  heart,  and  your  merit  will  fix  for  era:  that  of 
Ehduc,  who  IB  ni^teiaUj  attwdted  to  you,  and  whoac  grief 
far  your  loss  was  such  as  to  jH«clude  all  hope  of  cmacdatiaB. 
It  is  my  istention  to  take  Qua  veil,  and  to  abandon  all  riaiaa 
to  those  auctions  which  are  estranged  to  bw  fiir  ever.  la 
canying  you  with  me,  and  reattxiiig  you  to  the  new  wntebtd 
£lidac,  I  shall  momote,  hj  the  on^  Means  in  my  power,  that 
luutt^ioefls  to  which  1  hare  hilimto  been  the  unintentiDBal 
obstacle."  Omlliadon  eousented,  with  silent  gntitnde,  tv 
accept  the  saerifice  so  gmervut^  <^rcd  by  her  rival,  mi 
was  united  to  her  lov^  as  sooa  as  the  solemn  oercausir  fc^*! 
taken  place,  hj  which  Goilddaec  t^reed  to  cooseciate  the 
remainda  <d  her  days  to  hea:Trak,  in  a  mnmery  which  waa 
erected  and  endewed  by  hat  husband,  od  the  site  of  the  anoiaat 
hermitage.  Tb^  onion  was  followed  by  many  years  of  h^- 
pineaa,  and  they  closed  a  li£e  enqdoyed  in  censtatit  acts  ef 
chari^  and  benevolence,  by  fidlowing  the  pious  ""■■"p^"  of 
Chiildeliiee,  who  received  Ouilliadun  into  her  cnder,  while 
I3klae  took  llie  cowl  in  a  monastery,  to  the  endowvem  of 
which  he  defeated  the  remainder  of  his  worldly  possessions. 
Trom  the  tdvoitBre  of  these  three,  "  the  idde  gentil  Britana" 
(&' oMnMO)  A'vAos  ourfau)  formed  a  lay  to  tnosmit  it  to  fldnre 


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SPECIMENS,  Su. 


ROMANCES  RELATraa  TO  ABTHUS. 


AiTHouoK  thie  c\am  of  nnnances  was  formerly  the  mofft 
numeTOns,  its  metrical  remains,  excepting  such  as  have  been 
preaemd  id  the  form  of  ballads,  are  now  extremely  scanty; 
Tiaa  indeed  miglit  have  been  expeeted;  becanw,  when  all 
metre  began  to  be  considered  as  ue  vehicle  of  ficdoik,  it  waa 
likely  that  the  favourite  story  of  Arthur  would  be  the  first 
to  be  tamed  into  prose,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  its 
authority  beyond  all  dispute.  On  the  other  hand,  as  the  art 
of  reading  made  a  slow  progress  amongst  the  vulgar,  it  wsa 
natural  ^t  parte  of  the  metrical  tale  should  be  detached 
for  liieir  use,  and,  in  the  shape  of  songs,  be  committed  to 
oral  tradition.  Warton,  however,  has  given  us  an  extract 
from  the  St.  Graal,  a  metrical  fragment,  said  to  consist  of 
40,000  lines,  compcwed  in  Uie  reipi  of  Henry  VI.  by  Thomas 
Ltmelich;'  and  in  the  same  reign  Robert  de  Thornton  is 
supposed  to  have  written  the  romance  of  Fercyrell  of  Galles,* 
which  is  still  preserved  in  the  library  of  Lincoln  cathedral. 
Concerning  the  former  it  is  difficult  to  feel  much  interest, 
after  perusing  Uie  deplorably  dull  extract  given  by  Warton; 
and  of  the  second  I  have  been  unable  to  procure  a  tiansoript. 

■  Thii  penoD  wu  merdj  the  tnailitoT,  not  the  inthor.  The  romance 
referred  to  ii  preiened  in  MS.  in  the  libnrj  of  Corpni  Chriiti  College, 
Cambridge. 

■  A  prettU;  writtea  end  unurina;  romance,  printed  bj  tlie  Camden 
Soctetj,  1841.  Thornton  ma  onljuie  tiuaeriber,  and  tha  aathor'a  nune 
liai  not  beea  discorered.  Few  miatakei  arc  mora  nnul  than  the  attribn* 
tion  ot  tulj  piteei  to  the  oo]^fl«li. 


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76  B^BLY  XKflLISH  lUTSICAL  S0MAHC£8. 

The  tale  of  Merlin  was  perhapa  at  first  nothing  more  than 
part  of  the  Brut,  &a  composed  either  bv  GaimELr  or  by  Wacc; 
in  which  shape  it  was  certainly,  os  the  French  writers  generally 
describe  it,  the  most  ancient  of  all  the  romances;  but  the 
immediate  original  from  which  our  English  translation  was 
mode  must  have  undei^ne  many  interpolations,  because  it 
contains  a  variety  of  febulous  matter  which  had  not  found 
its  way  into  the  history  of  GcoScey  of  Monmouth. 

The  following  abstract  was  mode  firam  a  transcript  of  the 
MS.  No.  150,  in  the  library  of  Lincoln's  Inn;  and  some 
deficiencies  were  afterwards  supplied,  by  the  kindness  of  my 
friend  Sir  Walter  Scott,  from  the  more  ancient  and  perfect 
copy  in  the  Auchinlech  MS.'  The  romance  of  Merlin  is 
mentioned  among  the  contents  of  Bishop  Percy's  curious 

■  Tbii  TCnlon  wis  printed  bjr  the  Abbotirord  Clab,  4to.,  1S3B,  ud  Sir 
W.  Scott  eenmtoutlj  conjeetnred  it  to  be  the  Gret  Gut  qf  Arlhurt, 
neDtiDwd  bf  Wlntonn,  bat  it  ondentlj  docs  not  igmt  with  Uie  dcKiip' 
tion  given  bf  that  mitci. 


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PART  I. 

These  woe  once  In  Britain  a  king  whose  name  was  Constant.' 
In  his  youth  he  bad  been  distinguished  by  his  visdom  and 
valow,  having  resisted,  and  finally  driven  out  of  his  country. 
King  Hcngist  of  Denmark  and  His  whole  army  of  Saracens. 
This  king  had  three  sons,  Constantise,  Aurelius  Ambrosius, 
and  Uther  Fendragon,  of  whom  the  elder,  preferring  the 
tranquillity  of  a  cloister  to  the  cares  of  empire,  had  taken  the 
cowl  at  Winchester,  and  was  generally  known  by  the  name 
of  Lc  Moine. 

Constans  beine  attacked  by  a  mortal  disease,  and  finding' 
his  death  approacuing.  snmmoned  his  barons,  thanked  them 
for  their  faithful  services,  and  earnestly  reque.sted  that  they 
would  transfer  to  his  son  that  allegiance  which  had  hitherto 
insured  the  independence  of  their  country.  They  consented; 
and  immediately  after  the  funeral,  which  took  place  at  Win- 
chester, Constantine  was  taken  &oin  his  convent,  and  vested 
with  the  insignia  of  royalty. 

Among  those  who  had  appeared  to  assent  with  the  greatest 
readiness  to  the  wishes  of  the  dying  monarch.  Was  Sir  Vor- 
tigem  his  steward;  a  man  of  some  abilities,  who  had  com- 
manded the  British  armies  with  conduct  and  success;  but  who 
had  long  cherished  the  most  crimioBl  ambition,  and  now  de- 
termined to  pare  his  way  to  the  crown,  though  at  the  expense 
of  the  Kberties  and  happiness  of  his  eonntry.  He  did  not  long 
wait  for  on  opportuni^  of  gratiAing  his  '^shes. 

Hcngist  had  no  sooner  leaiited  the  death  of  Constans,  and 
the  nominatioa  of  bis  monkish  successor,  than  he  sent 


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76  ZAXLT  EKOLISB   KZTKICAX  S01UXCE9. 

After  many  Saracen'  atout  and  stark. 
Of  Saxoyne,  and  of  Denmark, 

and  in  a  Hhort  time  invaded  Britain  with  as  army  of  on  htm- 
dred  thousand  men.  The  unwarlike  Constantine  immediately 
fled  to  Vortigem,  (who  ia  called  in  the  romance,  Fortofer,) 
and  earnestly  conjured  him  to  take  the  command  of  the  Bnti^ 
forces ;  but  the  "  tzaitour  strong"  pretended  sickness,  and 
declared  that  age  and  infirmitieB  hod  rendered  him  incapable 
of  beaiins  the  fiitigues  of  a  campaign.  The  unfortunate  Con- 
stantise,  being  thus  left  to  his  own  resources,  issued  his  orders, 
harStily  assembled  an  anny,  led  them  as  hastily  against  the 
eatxaj,  md  experienced  a  total  and  roinons  def«it. 

Bntun  -was  at  that  time  goremed  by  a  number  of  petty 
kings,  whom  tlie  talents  of  Constans  had  imited  in  a  gencru 
DoofedeiBey,  and  who,  aooustomed  to  constant  sDccess  wlule 
Suiting  under  his  banners,  feh  with  gaieral  indignation  this 
ime^ieeited  revcne  of  ibrtnne.  AB  eoncmred  in  utlribiiting 
dteir  defeat  to  the  mot^iaoity  of  the  wretched  monk  whom  tltey 
had  BO  hastily  invested  with  tine  soveieigutj ;  bH  agreed  that, 
•ft^  the  death  of  Constans,  Vortigem  alone,  the  compsnitm 
ofhisvietoiies,  was  fitted  to  lead  the  British  prinora  in  battle: 
to  Vcaiigent,  tlKxefbre,  they  sent  an  embassy  of  twelve  oi 
tbnr  nnmber,  invitiin  him  to  asaiBt  them  with  his  ami  >nd 
his  oonnad  in  repaiiing  their  late  dt^nice. 

Hie  crafty  steward  reeeiTed  the  ambassadors  with  eveiy 
<teman«ti«tion  of  respect,  but  afibeted  the  utmost  sorprise  at 
the  labjeot  of  their  application: 

no  betake  Inm  F<«tae«r, 
*'  Good  knights  hardy,  and  pai 
I  n'MU  neitlMT  yonr  duke  ne  king! 
Why  aake  ye  me  MunsdUng? 
King  Cmstens  I  was  to  swore; 
Bier  I  was  yon,  tin,  tofbcel 
And  wed'  yon,  with  my  power, 
Wide  and  tiae,*  far  and  ncr! 

*  nit  wont.  dnrin(  fte  middb  >gat,  «■ 
Pt^au  u>d  M*luMiMUBi;  IB  ihuil,  to  all  n 
did  &M  pnifen  Ckntiuutj. 

*  nam;  boU.  '  Dekaitd. 

*  Tn  mi  wida.    IV  wwd  »kh  is  DsaHf  ■ynonomiMi  «A  km/;  ais 


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xxBUK,  nax  i.  79 

iTith  ne  Bia  it  oo^bt  iMr  m: 
VkoKkm,  to  yvar  king  79  go, 
Bcaecok  faim  h»  yon  saeooor. 
And  ye  will  bia  t^en  ImaBiv." 
llm  b~Kpake  to  htai «  bnrwM, 
**  Sir,  onr  kng  ia  bat  a  oo^anL!' 
Tho  he  saw  ewar4t»  dnw. 
To  flee  Kicai  be  ma  wdl  &w.* 
He  eui  no  oranKl  to  bo  good: 

"  I  lere*  it  wA,"  qwA  Fortafon, 
Win  I  me  BDddBK  afentuw 
To  pnrcfaue  ft  fixd  gnat  bmovr! 
Gif  UofBe  yonr  ki»g  dead  were, 
Icb  wowd  yon  be^^  mt  4f  cere/' 

^liia  Lint  wu  not  lost  upon  Ibe  amhemmdmn  On  thor 
retnni  to  the  eoniedeiatea  they  fotuxl  tbe  unfintoaate  king 
at^Einer  in  bis  boll,  pnH^  rushu^  on  hint  imexpecteiUy,  di^ 
parsed  bie  attendimts,  killed  hiio,  end  cat  off  hie  head. 

An  act  of  Tiotence  bo  sodden  aad  unexpected  excited  yexj 
general  miprise  aokd  Indignatiou;  but  ibs  awntflninn.  after 
e^odng  their  purpose,  bod  instantly  made  tbeir  eacape.  The 
daneer  of  leafing  the  throne  Tacant,  while  Hengist  was  at 
tibe  head  of  a  victoriouB  army,  was  eridrait  and  preasing;  the 
ia&ncy  of  Udier  and  Ambro^ua  precluded  their  nomia^ion; 
and  Qiae  remained  no  competitDr  whose  military  talentaooold 
be  compared  to  those  of  Vortigem-  Hiis  cbieC  tberefore, 
was  elected  without  opposition,  and  graciouBly  accepted  the 
ctmmiand  omidat  the  ^outa  of  the  army.  AJter  conTening 
his  pariiament,  his  first  otgect  was  to  secure  the  guardianship 
of  uie  young  princes ;  but  two  &itbM  barons,  foreseeing  tbia 
design,  hod  token  advantage  of  tbe  concision  attending  the 
murder  of  the  late  king,  and  had  conveyed  into  Britany  the 
intended  victims  of  his  ambition. 

Vortigem.  though  mndi  disappointed,  was  forced  to  soS' 
pend  bis  feelings  for  tbe  present,  and  to  take  such  measoies 
as  mifi^t  justiff  the  choice  of  the  nation.  He  assembled  his 
army,  marched  against  Hengist,  checked  bis  career  of  Tictory, 


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80  CjISIT  ziraiiBH  icstsicax   bomikczb. 

routed  him  in  a  general  eng^ranent,  drove  him  from  post  to 
post,  nnd,  finally,  enveloped  the  Saxon  forces  ho  completely, 
that  they  wero  glad  to  purchase  their  safety  by  tlie  express 
Btipulntion  that  they  should  embark  for  Germany,  and  bind 
themselves  to  abotam  from  all  future  attempts  on  die  territory 
of  Britain.  Vortigem  returned  in  triumph,  and  held  a  solemn 
festival  in  honour  of  his  victory. 

On  this  occasion  the  assassins  of  the  late  king,  to  whom 
the  new  eovereign  was  indebted  for  his  elevation,  came  for- 
ward to  chum  toe  reward  of  their  action.  But  Vortigem, 
though  he  hod  approved  tlie  removal  of  his  rival,  did  not  wish 
to  establish  a  precedent  of  which  he  might,  in  his  turn,  become 
the  victim ;  he  therefore  ordered  the  immediate  punishment 
of  the  claimants,  whose  guilt  was  fidly  established  by  their  own 
confession.  They  were  instantly  (Lrawn  asunder  by  horses, 
nnd  ttieir  mangled  remains  publicly  hanged.  Unfortunately 
for  him  the  culprits  were  men  of  rank,  who  bod  extensive 
and  powcrM  connections ;  their  execution  thereibre  became 
the  signal  of  a  general  insurrection;  the  royal  forces  were 
rppcntedly  vanquished  by  the  rebels;  and  Vortigem,  after 
gaining  uie  crown  by  a  conne  of  treachery,  was  on  the  point 
of  losing  it  by  an  act  of  justice,  when  he  bethought  himself  of 
applying  for  assistance  to  Hengist.  The  arrival  of  the  Saxons, 
who  gladlv  obeyed  the  first  summons,  instantly  turned  the 
scale  of  Tictorr ;  the  confederate  Britons  fied  in  evciT  en- 
eounter;  and  Vortigem,  restored  to  all  his  power,  felt  the 
warmest  gratitude  for  his  deliverer,  which  ytos  soon  strength- 
ened by  nnothoT  and  stronger  passion. 

Angys  had  verament, 

A  daughter  both  fair  and  gcnl; 

Ac'  she  was  hcntlicn  Sanuine: 

And  Fortigpr,  for  love  fine. 

Her  took  to  fere*  and  to  wife. 

And  was  cursed  in  all  his  life ! 

For  he  let  Christian  wed  heathen. 

And  meynt  our  blood,  nls  flesh  and  mathen!* 

Msnr  thousand  was  swithe*  in  wedlock, 

<  Bat.  *  CompMion. 

■  EDii  eipUns  0^  wwd  aaj^i,  bat  it  mij  be  furlj  donbtrd 
WhsOMi  that  bt  tha  can«rt  ti«B*liboa.  *  Quicker. 


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XEBI.IN,  PAST  I.  81 

Als  ire  find  vritten  in  book. 
Ther  wiu  nigh  all  this  land 
To  the  devil  gove'  in  hand! 
Feasts  hi*  made,  great  and  fele,> 
And  hadden  all  wwldes  weal, 
And  held  no  better  law     . 
Than  the  hound  with  hia  felawe ! 
This  lasted  well  fele  yenr^ 

Bat  grants,  though  thev  may  rei^ess,  can  seldom  stifle  the 
Toice  of  conscience ;  and  Vortigem  wa*  doomed  to  feel  that 
neither  the  success  of  his  arms,  nor  the  renioTBl  of  all  his 
rivBls,  nor  the  power  of  hia  ally,  could  give  hiii  that  security 
which  could  only  result  from  a  confidence  in  the  affections  of 
his  people.  Persecuted  by  contiiiual  distrust  and  anxiety,  hs 
determined  to  construct  an  impregnable  fbrtrese,  in  which  he 
might  defy  all  attempts  of  his  enemies,  and  feci  secure  against 
the  machmations  of  the  malcontents,  the  possible  infideUty  of 
his  allies,  and  the  probable  invasion  of  the  young  princes, 
TTther  and  Ambroeius,  whose  pretensions  to  the  crown  might 
perhaps  be  sumMrted  by  a  large  army  from  Britany. 

Having  m^o  these  sage  reflections,  he  pitched  npon  ft 
proper  spot,  a  commanding  eminence  on  Salisbury  plain, 
traced  out  the  plan  of  the  fortifications,  and,  having  assembled 
fiiteen  thousand  ransons  and  carpenters,  ordered  them  to  pro-  ' 
ceed  in  the  work  with  all  possible  dispatch.  He  order  was 
ponctaally  obeyed.  The  ground  was  excavated,  the  founda- 
tion laid,  and,  before  the  end  of  the  day,  a  wall  of  prodieious 
thickness,  and  already  breast-high,  indicated  the  formidable 
extent  of  the  future  castle.  But  when  the  workmen  returned 
on  the  next  morning  to  their  task,  they  were  not  a  little  sur- 
prised to  find  the  gromid  perfectly  levelled,  so  that  the  trace 
of  their  labonr  was  only  visible  from  the  heaps  of  lime  and 
stone,  the  remnants  of  the  wall,  which  lay  on  each  side  of  the 
former  trench.  After  rubbii^  their  eyes,  to  satisfy  themselves 
that  they  were  awake,  they  exerted  bU  their  sagacity  in 
attempting  to  penetrate  the  cause  of  this  mystery ;  but  finding 
that,  after  all  their  conjectures,  the  intended  castle  retained 
the  same  unpromisiDg  appearance,  they  began  to  remove  the 

1  QiTen,  •  Tixj.  *  Mm;. 

a 

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could 


iUt  proved 
0  IcM  deop 


93  EABLT  ZKQLISH  XXIMICAI.   EOKAITCES. 

nblnah,  dug  Uie  ftmndatioBa  new,  placed  every  stone  wilb 
the  most  scrupnlou*  ou«,  and  ivtind  to  rest,  exhausted  by 
fittiguo,  and  at  a  later  hoar  thu  nsiu^  hvt  exulting  in  the 
OonTiction  that  tiM  wisehifif  at  th»  piMeafing  ni^t  was  per- 
fectly repaired. 

Their  triumph  tres  of  short  durattan.  ntey  returned  in 
the  morning,  and  peraeived  that  tiie  watt  was  again  oblite- 
rated. It  was  now  hopeless  to'  inquira  whetiier  the  evil  arose 
ftom  the  obstinate  nature  of  the  fioil,  or  ircaa  a  secret  anti- 
~  ^  of  the  stone  and  mortar:  in  cdtfaar  case  no  coalitioa 
be  expected  from  argument;  and  experience  had  now 
}ved  that  anyattempt  to  reconcile  uem  by  fbrca  was 
deaperate.  The  case  thereAr«  was  referred  to  Yorli- 
^  m,  and  vg  him  to  his  sstrologen,  whom  he  commandei^  on 
pain  of  deaui,  to  discover  why  his  caade  refosed  to  be  CdB- 
•tmcted  on  Salisbury  plain.  * 

The  wise  men,  thus  menocnd,  consulted  the  firmament,  and 
oiseovered,  by  the  aspect  of  the  stars,  that  a  boy  had  been 
bom,  five  yean  before,  without  the  intervention  of  man. 
Iliey  assured  tha  king  that,  if  he  could  discover  this  boy,  put 
him  to  death,  and  bcmnear  with  his  blood  the  fbundations  rf 
his  fbrtiesB,  it  aii^t  be  erected  without  any  fordier  difficult. 
Vortig«m,  though  be  saw  no  reason  fbr  donbtiiig  the  efficacy 
of  the  receipt,  did  not  imphcitly  believe  in  the  existeuce  of 
ouch  a  boy;  he  tfaerefbra  dimatched  a  mmiber  of  messengers 
into  all  porta  of  Bngland  m  search  of  this  prodigy,  out 
detained  ute  wise  men  in  pnaon,  assuring  them  that,  if  the 
ohild  were  not  discovered,  meir  blood  should  pay  the  penalty. 

In  this  place  our  author,  being  aware  that  his  hearers  may 
g;row  impatient  fi>r  the  appearance  of  the  great  peraooage 
whose  adventures  he  bsa  nndertaken  to  relate,  leaves  the  wise 
■len  in  their  prison,  and  Ae  meesengen  on  tiieir  road,  sod 
enters  upon  a  mystical  (hssertation  preparatory  to  the  birth 
of  Merlio.  He  uibnna  ns,  on  die  antiioiity  of  **  David  the 
prophet,  and  of  Moses."  that  the  greater  port  of  the  angels 
who  rebelled  under  the  command  of  Lucifer.  lost  duon^ 
that  set  their  ftnner  power  and  beao^,  and  became  "fiendes 
Uaok : "  but  that  sraie,  instead  of  falling  inta  "  Hell-pit,"  had 
remained  in  mid'Oir,  wh«re  they  still  possess  the  fiwol^  of 
assuming  any  sha^  which  may  tend  to  pmmote  their  wicked 
puipoee  of  tempting  and  perverting  mankind.     They  had 


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TtlMUJT,  TAKE   1. 


minctilons  birth  of  mr  SKrioac;  imt  dtey  turned  to  coontenct 
its  salutary  panoHi  by  ODgndermg,  mm  naie  nrgm,  a 


)  may  eosih  bdicre,  mnelk  dtsMnecrted  by  the 
nrthofaorSBTOmr,  i   ■  ■■      ■ 

>n'  whOK  pEMternatanl  ptnpar  skoflld  be  i 
stantly  employed  in  t^  diasemiiiiUioB  a£  ^ridLedhwa.  Sudi 
was  uieir  project  We  shall  now  see  the  meana  to  which 
liiey  tM*rted  fcr  prmoCuig  ita  maeeam,  snd  tt«  eteatB  iriiidi 
led  tB  iti  fioikt  dbeogafitnre'. 

ThcN  WH  St  Ifaat  tb»e  in  Engbnul  ft  rich  nn,  Ueswd  wdb 


lifiil  ^iiuhtuK  The  h^pueM  of  tiiia  fiomly  iraa  becosM 
{sorcrtiw  aandpthor  nag^boon;  h«t  tfaa  fi«id  hsraig  du- 
ceiterad,  m  the  wife,  an  imtabSity  of  tm^cr  wluch  had 
hitlierto  escaped  tlie  notice  of  her  hnrinBd  ud  children,  hs 
lilted  hinuelf  to  enooorage  thia  infiKmity;  and  with  such 
■uecesa,  Qiat  the  good  lady,  having  been  betrayed  into  a 
trifling  dispute  vim  her  son,  sudden^  bimt  into  transports  of 
Tage ;  imprecated  the  most  horrid  cunea  on  his  head;  and 
finally  consigned  him,  witli  all  possible  solemnity,  to  the 
devil.  The  fiend  lost  no  time  in  seizing  iua  newly-acquired 
property,  and  strangled  the  young  man  in  his  sleep:  the 
inoUier,  etnng  with  remoESe,  instantiy  hung  herself;  and  her 
husband,  overpowered  by  this  sodden  calamity,  died,  of  giiet, 
without  confearion  or  olMoIntion. 

Among  the  spectators  <^  this  tragedy  was  a  neighbouring 
hermit,  Qie  holy  Blaise,  who.  on  considering  all  the  circum- 
stances of  the  case,  plainly  discorered  that  it  was  owing  to 
the  intervention  of  Ae  Send.  Peelmg-  a  fhtherly  K^ction  Itv 
the  three  orphan  sisters,  he  exhorted  theA  ta  seratintze  se- 
verely all  the  thoughts  and  actions  of  their  past  life;  received 
their  confessions ;  impooed  on  each  a  prtn)er  penance ;  gave 
diem  his  holy  absolution ;  and  then  retired  to  his  ceQ,  in  the 
confidence  of  having  secured  them  against  ftiture  temptation. 
Before  we  proceed  with  our  story,  it  will  be  proper  to  men* 
■ — 'it  law  of  this  country. 

In  hH  England,  tho,'  was  nsage, 

6if  any  woman  did  onti^e, 

(Bst  fpl  it  were  in  sponaing) 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


U  BABLT  BXOLISH  KETSICAi;  B0HXHCB8. 

And  any  man,  old  or  ying,' 
Mt^t  it  wite'  of  that  country. 
All  quick'  heo'  shonlde  dolven*  be; 
But  she  were  light  woman  told' 
To  aH  that  to  her  ask  would.' 

On  tbis  sanguinary  law  the  deril  founded  hie  plan  for  tlie 
destruction  of  the  two  elder  ustcn.  He  repaired,  in  a  proper 
disguise,  to  aa  old  woman,  with  whoso  avarice  aud  cunning 
he  was  well  acquainted ;  and  engaged  her,  by  promises  of  the 
most  extravagant  reward,  to  attempt  the  seduction  of  tbo 
eldest  sister,  whom  he  was  prevented  from  assailing  in  person 
by  the  precautions  of  the  holy  hermit.  The  old  hag  readily 
undertook  the  commission. 

To  the  eldest  sister  neo  said, 
"Alas,  my  sweet  dear  maid, 
Thou  hast  fair  feet  and  hond, 
Gentil  body  for  to  fond,* 
White  Bwire,'  and  long  arm; 
Ywis'*  it  is  much  harm 
lliat  thy  body  nc  might  assay 
With  some  young  man  for  to  play. 
That  thee  might  find,  in  every  case. 
Game  and  mirth,  and  great  solace! " 

To  these  solicitations  the  young  lady  nnfbrtunately  neglected 
lo  make  any  objection  except  the  danger  of  a  discovery; 
which  being  quickly  overruled,  she  yielded  to  temptation, 
was  betrayed,  condemned,  and  buried  olive.  The  next  sister 
opposed  still  less  reustance  to  the  artifices  of  the  fiend;  but 
escaped  the  penalty  of  the  law  by  readily  submitting  to  indis- 
crimmate  prostitution. 


T  1  know  of  no  autfaority  for  tUi  itrmnge  eliuu.  Thit  imong  the 
Briton*  m  nmumed  vomau  conricted  of  incontineDce  wu  doomed  to 
ba  thrown  down  ■  praciptce,  uid  that  bj  the  Saion  law  ibe  was  liable  (as 
ben  sttfed)  to  be  baricd  alive,  is  anerted  in  Joeetin'i  iJIe  or  St.  Kea- 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


KESLIK,  PAST   1.  86 

It  is  evident  ibat  the  holy  Blaise  had  been  too  negligent  c^ 
his  charge;  but  his  whole  attention  was  roused  bj^  ue  anival 
(d  the  younger  siater,  who,  foiling  at  his  feet,  and  reminding 
him  of  the  sod  &te  of  her  &ther,  mother  and  brother,  pro- 
ceeded to  relate  the  public  ptmishment  of  one  sister  and  the 
public  di^race  of  the  other.  Blaise  was  filled  with  compas- 
sion ;  he  felt  also  that  his  character  was  staked,  and  that  he 
was  now  fitirty  at  issue  with  the  fiend  for  the  soul  of  this 
maiden.  He  therefore  took  every  possible  precaution;  ea- 
joined  her  strict  obgcrrance  of  luB  directions  with  unoBual 
solemnity;  displayed  the  dangers  attendant  on  the  seven 
deadly  sins,  and  particularly  warned  her  against  the  moot 
fonnidable  of  all,  the  sin  of  incontinence  :— 

Bade  her  heo*  should  nim  keep,* 

That  heo  ne  laid  her  nought  to  sleep, 

And,  namely,  nought  at  night, 

But  heo  hadde  candle-light. 

And  windows  and  doors,  in  that  sbnmd, 

Wercn  sperd,*  by  roof  and  ground ; 
"  And  make,  there  again,  \n&  good  voice 

The  sign  of  the  holy  croia.* 

Bid'  him,  that  he  warrant  be 

Again*  the  fiend,  and  his  ponst^."' 
Armed  with  these  instructions,  the  maid  returned  home; 
watched  and  pmyed  with  great  regularity;  and,  under  the 
protection  of  the  holy  sign,  which  efEec^ially  guarded  her 
doors  and  windows,  escaped  for  some  time  the  artifices  of  the 
tempter.  But  at  lengm  her  security  betrayed  her.  Ihe 
Bolicitatdons  of  some  neighbours  drew  her  to  the  ah;'  her 
Rtay  was  insensibly  protracted;  the  treaoh^ous  liquor  pro- 
duced  intosication ;  and  in  this  state  she  was  assaulted  by 
hs  wicked  sister,  who,  attended  by  a  troop  of  loose  women, 
proceeded  to  insult  and  even  to  strike  her.  The  abuse  waa 
re-echoed;  the  blow  returned;  and  a  general  conflict  ensued, 
fi^>Di  whitji  she  at  length  escaped  into  her  house,  which  she 
carei^illy  barred  and  eecured,  but  in  her  agitatitm  forgot  to 

'  She.  •  Take  cue.  ■  Sp«attd,  i.  e.,  Gutened. 

*  CroM.  Ft.  '  Pray.  •  Aguiut.  '  Power.  Fr. 

■  Ala-houB.  "  Qo  to  tlu  lie  witt  ■  Chrutiui." — Two  Gcntlesiea 
otTeima. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


86  E&SLT  EirOLISE  mTXICAX  BOHXirCBa. 

■ay  her  pn^en,  or  ta  toAd  "tiie  «^  Of  &e  uuw:  Mid, 
litrawing  bemelf  on  Iter  bed,  remgned  benelf  to  deep.  Tbe 
flaad,  BO  longer  atopped  hy  the  fomiidBUe  barrier  i^c^  bad 
hidierto  exduded  lim,  euiljr  inamiiKled  tiinniiplf  into  the 
I,  ammwd  m  hnmiBa  ^mp^  completed  hii  Inng  jwitmAi-A 


•T^' 


■  tbe  foflowiag  vwrmng  hi*  imibrtiaiBto  Tidiiii  bastesed 
to  bar  ooufMWM;  related,  inth  mscb  oontritiott,  tite  di^rww- 
fid  qimnd  m  iriudi  die  bad  been  engaged;  deplored  beo' 
ne^eot  of  boa  isatiiietiont;  md  Sstttlly  ccmmTiaicffted  to  bim 
««M  n»aou  for  ai^egdng  -A^  tbis  negleet  bad  been  pro- 
dnctiTC  of  omaequeDcea  wtncb  night  lead,  on  their  discoveoy, 
to  ber  disgrace  aad  iiiiiiiiibiiMnil  The  good  Sennit  liatraied 
to  her  narrative  witb  great  sMention;  deeply  lamented  ber 
carelessness  and  tbe  watchful  activily  of  the  fiend ;  gave  ber 
bis  benediction,  and  diransied  ber  witli  tbc  promise  that  he 
would  employ  all  the  means  in  his  poweg;  to  preserve  her 
from  the  &te  by  whick  she  was  fiireatened. 

From  this  moment  ber  liouis  were  solely  occimied  by  peni- 
tence and  devotion;  but  her  prcgnantrr  becoming  mamfbet, 
she  was  at  lengtb  seiaed  and  carried  be&re  iQie  justice.  Her 
protestations  of  innoceaoe  were,  of  ootme,  disbelieved;'  a 
jury  of  matrons,  solemnly  convened  on  Hie  occasion,  declared, 
on  dieir  om)  knowled^,  that  ber  asseverations  were  per- 
fyo^  iDOM^wtiUe  ^mk  tite  aymptoms  Am  diseorered;  and 
Ibe  jMtiee  ww  piBtwaduig  to  pMs  Mntatce,  when  Blaise  in- 
lupwud  aond  prtitiunud  far  a  deby  of  her  puniahuent 


e  jtHtiee  ww  piBoeaduig  to  pMs  Mntatce,  v 
rpsved  aond  pctiliuued  aar  a  deby  of  her  pm 
obeeived  fbot,  wlmtotw  mig^t  be  the  goilt  of  the  mother,  ber 


oiHld  mm  aseonAy  inBoenrt,  and  conseqnently  that  berdesth 
anut  be  defened  till  aAer  ber  debvery;  -that  the  atory  told 
by  Hie  ampesed  ontprtt  was  indeed  very  wondesfcl;  b^t  that 
be,  to  witmn  it  bM  been,  asleinnly  i«vealod  is  oonfeasian, 
bdieved  it  to  be  trae,  ttiat  <omc  myatery  was  ooaoeided 
under  it  which  time  would  probaUy  manifeBt :  and  tberc&n 
he  advised  that  a  reapite  «cf  two  yean  abonkl  be  allowed, 

>  II  may  In  praomad,  baremr,  ban  >  punga  in  JooeUn'i  Ufe  of 

St.  Kentegeni,  that  the  Britiih  virgins  werv  letj  mbject  to  accidenti, 

thoiMth  thsr  mentil  Bai4tr  wu  not  thnvbj  iaipwed.    The  biilh  of  St. 

e  ItKptctt,  verj  limikir  to  thit  of  Meriin.;  md  so 

I.  aoDordiag  to  tfae  «d)tsr,  dut  of  SL    D*nd.     Pinkcrton'i  Tits 

■'-"B,  ftc,  p.  ZOO, 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


KXBuv,  rjuu  I.  87 

during  which  tlie  womat  ArwH  he  tbnaQj  otnfined,  in  the 
hopeB  of  discoveriiig  the  biith  itf  her  nfrrati've.  The  justice 
yielded  to  this  AdTioe,  and  ordered  her  to  be  carefully 
guarded,  with  no  caatfaiaau  but  I.  midwife,  in  the  upper 
room  of  8  lofty  tow,  in  whicb  ikej  recaved  a  daily  supply 
(tfpmvinonshymeanBof  akngn^and  basket. 

In  due  time  tiie  giri  was  -ddivered  <tf  *  son,  whose  fine 
fbatnres  and  w«ll-fenmed  linbs  suited  Ibe  >faiiration  of  the 
midwife,  thouf^  his  diabolical  origin  was  erinccd  fay  a  com- 
-'-■ — -—^^  cf  Machliaar.  which  she  corfd  not  toucli  tfiffi'- 
1^.  Im jpons  Ehuse,  wlio  bad  exactly  calcu- 
e  nf  the  fittle  iaaim'w  birUi  was  in  waiting  at 
Ae  &0t  ef  &e  tower,  mA,  1>ang  informed  of  tlie  event,  or- 
wtni  the  nnnt  in  ve  nweiea  in  me  baaket;  oort  mm  awa^ 
in  iiiuKBph  t*  4e  ■aacfl  fcnt;  Ittptixed  Inn  by  flie  name  at 
jffuui;  Hm 'tsoa  fBn^vpomled  ror  ever  the  bcffiw  ™  vie 
fiwils,  Ct  the  ^eiy  **»■■«■■*  «f -OiDtr  erpeeted  comfAetion. 

lite  good  m^  that  Tetarued  wiA  Us  inftraal  proselyte, 
•Btd  juAuiud  Um  "by  means  of  tiie  baAet  to  the  midwtie; 
Hho  onryng  Um  to  4te  fire,  and  surveying  bis  touj^  hide 
win  nontr  mtd  Mtomihiiieirt,  could  luft  '^"*"'  from  Te< 
proaching  ium  for  his  umeascmatile  choice  of  a  moQier  who 
Mi  never  taken  Ae  VBoal  means  to  haje  a  child. 


Whe&er>artti»B?  miditfiAatknf 
Who  w»tl7  fttker,  ky  sMrt  er  day, 
TbM  no  auo)  wile  ■  ne  B^  f 

n  IB  gZCAt  tuQl,  Vbim  ibm  VUUU, 

nat  ftr  thy  We  (1^  Heaven  Bag!) 
Iby  awaier  riiall  be  abinwitii  wuel 
Alaa  diat  stomid*  it  dutll  fittl  eo^ 
I  wonU  tiioa  were  fiu  m  &e  sea, 
With  that*  thy  ■lother  no^t  Kxpe  fi«el" 
**"   ntkit  be  heard  epeak« 


He  bn^ded*  up  his  eyen  two, 
jLad  lo^*  (m  ber  gan  look, 
And  his  head  on  hra  he  shoiak, 


J  L,  Google 


88  E^BLT  ZKGLISH  XETSICII,  SDXAiTCEI. 

And  «m  to  ay  with  lend  din; 
"Huni Ij'est!"  he  said,  "old  quean!' 
My  mother  shall  no  man  quell,* 
For  no  thins  that  man  msy  tell, 
WhDe  that  I  may  stand  or  gon! 
Uangre'  them  every  one, 
I  ehtdl  save  her  liie  for  thi« ! 
That  thou  ahalt  hear  and  see,  ywii." 

Both  the  mother  and  the  midwife  were  vciy  near  dying  o^ 
fright  while  they,  listened  to  these  encouiaging  assurances- 
They  crossed  themselves,  and,  at  length  reenming  couiagCf 
conjured  him,  in  the  name  of  Ood  and  the  Vii^in,  and  of  as 
many  saints  as  they  were  able  to  recollect,  that  he  would 
declare  who  be  was,  and  what  roisadventtire  had  brought  him 
thither:  but  Merlin,  who  woe  not  naturally  loquacious,  only 
smiled  Rt  their  questions,  and  abstained  from  gi^tilying  their 
curiosity.  In  tins  silence  he  obstinately  persevered  during 
six  months,  when  IIib  lamentations  of  his  mother  extorted 
from  him  a  second'  promise  of  his  protection;  by  which  she 
was  so  fiu'  satisfied  as  to  await  with  some  degree  of  confi- 
dence the  final  decision  of  the  justice. 

1^  two  years  being  expired,  she  appeared  in  court  with 
her  child  in  her  arms;  listened  in  silence  to  the  inteimga- 
tories  which  she  had  formerly  answered,  and  even  abstained 
from  protesting  against  the  sentence  which  condemned  her  to 
be  buried  alive.  But  her  infimt,  to  the  great  surprise  of  oil 
present,  undertook  her  defence,  alleging  that  her  pregnancy 
was  the  result  of  a  chanea  which  neiuier  man  nor  woman 
oould  prevent.  Such  an  argument  was  certainly  not  convinC' 
ing;  and  the  justice,  happening  to  feel  ofi^nded  by  the  pre- 
mature eloquence  of  the  young  advocate,  only  repUcd  by 
Gonfinning  the  sentence  and  oracring  the  culprit  to  instant 
«iecutioD.  But  Merlin  was  not  dismayed.  He  proceeded  to 
tell  that  he  was  the  son  of  a  devil  of  great  power,  though  for- 
tunately rescued  by  an  expeditious  ImptiEm  from  the  vicious 
^position  of  his  paternal  relations ;  tbnt  he  could  prove  his 
prtctematural  descent  by  revealing  all  things  past,  present, 
or  future;  and  that  the  justice  was  in  this  respect  very  much 
his  inferior,  as  he  did  not  even  know  the  tiame  of  his  own 

>  Slut;  dnb,  ■  EOl,  *  Iaq>lt«of. 

D,j,,..cjL,Goo^lc 


XERLIir,  PART  I.-  89 

&tlier.     The  justice,  not  much  conciliated  b^  Oob  ipeech, 
answered, 

"  Thou  liest,  thou  block  coDJotmM 

iiy  &ther  was  a  good  baroun, 

Aud  my  mother  a  levedy "  free : 

Yet  alive  thou  may  ber  see." 
MeHia  calmly  desired  that  the  la^  m^t  be  nunnumed; 
and,  on  her  appeanmce  in  court,  being  urged  to  state  his 
accusation,  requested  that  Ihey  might  be  confronted  in  prt- 
▼ate,  because  such  a  subject  was  not  fit  for  -public  diacusnon. 
Tbe  justice,  a  good  deal  surprised  at  his  discretkni,  readily 


"Merlin,"  he  said, " now  nray  I  thee. 

What  was  the  man  that  Mgat  me?" 
"  Sir,"  he  said,  "  by  St.  Simonn  I 

It  was  the  parson  of  this  town. 

He  begat  thee,  by  St.  Jame! 

Upon  this  woman  that  is  thy  dame," 

Inc  levedy  said,  "Thou  fbui  thing. 

Thou  hast  lowen  a  stark  lesingl* 

His  &ther  was  a  noble  baronn. 

And  holden  a  man  of  great  renown; 

And  thou  a  mis-begotten  wretch! 

I  pray  to  Qod  the  de'el  thee  fetch ! 

In  wild  fire  then  ehonldcet  be  brent,' 

For  with  wrong  thou  hast  me  shent!"' 
Merlin  quietly  answered,  that,  as  her  memoiy  seemed 
rather  defective,  he  would  willingly  assist  it  by  relating  a 
few  circumstancee  of  her  past  life.  He  put  her  in  mind  of  a 
certain  journey  to  Csidu^,  from  whence  the  baron  returned 
rather  unexpectedly  in  the  night:— 

"  It  was  by  sight,  and  not  by  day. 

The  parson  in  thy  bed  lay; 

At  thy  chamber  door  thy  lord  gan  knock. 

And  thou  diddest  on  thy  smock. 

And  were  sore  afraid  that  tide!' 

And  undiddeet  ft  window  wide, 

>  Comrd.  *  L«]t;  '  ^W  ■  ■("><>>  1^* 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


H  XAMI.Y  EVQUSK  aCECUCAI.  BOlUJtCU. 

Aad  Hiem  llie  p«r>on  tfaoii  «Bt  lot. 

And  be  ran  away  fail  sket.' 
"  Dame,"  he  fliid,  "  that  ilke'  night 

Was  begot  Hi^  aon  the  knicht 

Dame,"  hewud,  "lie  I  on^t?" 

And  heo  stood  still  aad  uud  nonght. 
Hie  joatioe,  to  iriiom  lUa  semtBl,  tboiq^  ■pa&oQjaBw,  did 
Bot  apiMBr  at  ^  amiuiiig,  ioapabentlT  «ipeotad  &om  lus 
mother  a  reftrtation  of  the  charge;  but  the  lady  was  satisfied 
to  pnrcihaaQ  M<w1?n'n  silenoe  by  a  oandid  oonfesaion.  She 
mi  thercdtaore  diimiwed  with  a  severe  repriiumd;  afta-  whidi 
Herlin  infoimed  the  justice  that  she  was  gone  to  the  paisoo, 
who,  becoming  deepeate  at  this  diacdoBure  of  his  ains,  would 
immediately  fly  to  the  next  bridge  and  drown  Hmedf  in  the 
riTer.  The  completion  of  t^  ■pco^tecy  inspired  tbie  justice 
with  great  respect  for  the  prc^ihet,  ^moae  motlier  was  in- 
atantly  set  at  Uberty.  Fi-n  ^^wn  after  Qua,  1^  £he  advice 
of  Merlin,  she  aasumed  the  veil  in  a  conveBt  of  black  nuns, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life  in  acts  of  devotion. 

Uerlin  being  now  aeven  yean  old,  it  is  time  that  we  should 
return  to  the  meaaaigers  whom  we  left  iqxm  their  tiravela. 

After  a  long  and  miitleae  jooTruy,  three  of  them  chanced 
to  meet  in  the  aame  town;  and  '^is  town  was  the  place  of 
Merlin's  abode.  He  happened  lo  be  pUjing,  at  that  moment, 
with  some  childim  in  the  street;  and  one  m  his  companions 
picking  a  quarrel  with  Tiim,  exdaimed — 

"ISioubladi  shrew!  thongs  as  fro! 

Hun  art  a  fool  thing  gotten  amiM! 

No  man  wot  who  tl^  Sidier  is  1 

But  Mi&c  devil  thee  begot,  I  ween. 

To  don  us  both  tr^^ie*  and  tena."* 

At  these  words  tbe  Ume  meMengen  irtm  their  swords, 
conceiving  that  they  had  foand  tfae  apputuled  -victim;  but 
Merlin,  t&ex  rebokiDg  hia  aanpanios  ibr  ma  tudisc 
with  a  smiling  cowrtewMwe  ta  ibe  i 
them  to  the  town,  and,  to  Ifaeor  iriaq 
rented  to  them  tlie  v^ok  "——-*—-—  «f  tfaeir  i 

*  fkadOj,  hmBj.  *  SmoB.  ■  Tciitka,  A.S. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


WKn^  fimn  nt  tfe  nme  time,  -A^  VwtigMn'a  inM  urn 
woM  giMt  Ibob,  Slid  ftat  aS  liie  Uood  in  liu  Teina -would  Bat 
an  any  w^  eontatibate  to  the  •oliditf  of  tlv  iMesded  cmatle. 
31ie  meMengeis,  in  Ttmif,  fKtdwmed  >^  ileave  of  taking  hi* 
life,  nronded  be  «Mad  {nerentliKiontf  tlteiTs,byfiimidi- 
ing  tbem  witii  Mdid  rMBOiiB  ibr  dMobeying  dvdrotden:  he 
fiuBcAne  -eondsoted  the»  Is  hie  matlts,  frnm  irhem  Hxy 
leamed  hia  BdmndooB  birth,  aadao  le«i  mirBcnlcMB  wifdom; 
and  it  th  nltimsbdy  Bgioed  jh«t  ^ey  Amild  all  retim  ta 
court  fln  the  fbOowing  di^,  the  nessengera  on  Ihair  awjL 
boisei,  aoDonpHiied  by  Ucalm  on  a  little  palfrey. 

Tie  journey  luted  throe  dt^;  and  eacb«€  theaeaddsd  to 
fhe  adaiiation  cf  Ihe  mtememgen  bar  Haic  peong  compaiUMi. 
They  paved  Aefiratmg^  ia  a  uadBet^town,  Ae  Mreete  rf 
irtiich  irere  cnnided  by  mecohante;  «nd  ^!i«  Meafin,  lAw  a 
kmK  nlence,  bunt  iMto  a  sadden  utd  videal  fit  a  Iw^dcc. 
On  bang  qnestiaaed  about  -Oie  oaow  of  bia  Bir&,  he  ponied 
ont  to  &  mssKiigen  a  ywn^  otaa  iiho  vbb  hai^inii^  £ir  a 

Thai  aaii  MeiliB,  "See  ye  soi)^ 

That  yjiug  nan,  4>rt  faaSi  dioou  hoof^i^ 

And  atroag  HMBCr  to  do  hen  uoict, 

Aad  i^^iiiiati  to  omesr  hem  ^  ^>ont? 

He  -weeneA  to  live  hem  to  wear: 

Sut,  by  my  aoul  I  dare  well  awear. 

His  wnta&ed  life  he  thiOl  far-fat,* 

Bre  he  oone  to  tna  vwn  gate." 
The  evmt  iaitiejiattjy  loQawed  the  pwdrntiaa.  On  Ae 
fUQovring  da^  ^  miith  tf  the  yooi^  pr^dst  wm  still  man 
violentlj  excited  by  a  fmieial-jirooeaaloa,  preeededby  anumber 
of  tSLait,  and  beaded  by  a  pneat  who  ohanted  xtoat  hnidfy 
and  meloSonaly;  whik  ai  i^ed  maumer,  with  Ins  eyes  fixed 
on  the  tner,  on  wUdi  was  laid  a  bt»  of  about  ten  years  old, 
exhitnted  every  token  of  de^Nur  And  anguish.  M^in,  be^ 
caSed  v^ptm  to  enilain  the  cause  of  his  merriment,  infinnod 
Ida  coinpamons  uat  the  moamer  and  the  fh^^"^  ou^d  to 
ehange  characters;  sboe  the  boy,  whose  loss  was  ao  fis^ingly 
depkned  by  tiie  reputed  fgrtifr,  had  really  t^mng  &om  the 

■  tnimmdivi«td)tbnii.  ■  Low,  JLS. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


92  EABLT  IVOUaH  ItSTBIOU.  SOlfiJTOBS. 

loins  of  tho  livelv  eccleaiostic.  The  justness  of  this  iii£>rm&> 
tion  was  verified  on  the  spot;  and  uie  mother  of  the  child, 
bcinp;  closely  questioned  by  the  messengers,  confefued  the 
tnith,  upon  their  ftssurtmce  that  the  happiness  of  her  good 
husband,  who  blindly  confided  in  her  chastity,  should  not  be 
disturbed  by  a  communication  of  the  discovery. 

On  the  third  day,  about  aoon,  Merlin  laughed  acain,  though 
no  visible  object  on  the  journey  had  attracted  hu  attention; 
and  his  companions  were  informed,  to  their  great  surprise, 
(bat  hit  laughter  was  occasioned  by  on  event  tiiea  passing  at 
dio  court  of  Vortigcm.  The  chamberlain  of  that  monarch,  it 
teems,  was  a  woman,  who  for  some  unknown  reason  had 
assumed  the  dress  of  a  man,  and  whose  beauty  had  inspired 
tho  queen  with  a  passion  which  she  was  unable  to  conquer. 
But  ner  solicitations  bein£,  of  course,  ineffectual,  her  love 
was  soon  converted  into  habcd;  she  flew  to  the  king,  and 
ftcoused  the  chamberlain  of  an  attempt  to  ofier  violence  to  her 
ehutitr;  and  the  indignant  monarch,  without  further  inquiry, 
orderra  the  supposed  culprit  to  be  immediately  hanged  and 
quartered.  Merlin  therefore,  addressing  his  fellow  travellers, 
roquosted  that  one  of  them  should  instantly  hasten  to  court; 
recommend  an  immediate  examination  into  the  sex  of  the 
pretended  ravisher;  and,  after  proving  her  innocence,  inform 
Vortigera  that  he  was  indebted  to  Merlin  for  this  important 
disroveiy. 

His  orders  wen  ponctually  obeyed.  One  of  tl>e  kni^ts 
messengers,  setting  off  at  fbll  speed,  dwrtly  arrived  at  court; 
fell  on  his  knees  before  the  king;  informed  him  that  the 
wonderflil  child  was  found;  that  his  knowledge  was  indeed 
■iipematural.  and  that  he  would  arrive  within  a  few  hours; 
hsUy,  he  UAA  him  that  the  chamberlain  lately  ordered  for 
execution,  as  guiltr  of  an  intended  rape  on  the  queen,  was  in 
fiwt  a  woman ;  which  might  easily  be  verified  by  causing  her 
ta  be  examined  in  his  majesty's  piesence.  Vortigem  issued 
the  tweessory  orders,  and  the  truth  of  the  informaticm  became 
monifeM;  but  the  king,  not  much  pleased  bv  a  discovery 
wluch  pointed  out  his  own  piecipitatiwt  and  injustice,  etcmly 
Osked  lAe  messrager,  "from  whun  he  had  learned  a  secret  so 
rxtraoidiaaiy?"  He  vas  answered,  that  it  was  discovered 
l^  Merlin ;  «^  tbouf^  only  seven  years  old,  vnderstood  alt 
thing*,  oad  parttcnhr)^  ^siiat  rdated  to  the  re&actmry  castle. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


KBBLIN,  PAST  I.  93 

much  better  tbaa  all  tlie  wise  m^i  In  his  majesty's  domi- 

Vortigeni,  appeased  bj'  tliie  asawer,  and  full  of  curiosily  to 
Bee  hia  new  gnest,  ordered  out  his  whole  court,  and,  epringii^ 
upon  his  horse,  rode  forward  to  meet  Merlin,  whom  he  con- 
ducted in  state  to  the  palace,  and  entertained  with^reat  mag- 
nificence. On  the  following  day  be  conducted  the  child  to 
the  site  of  his  projected  castle,  and  inquired  wh^f ,  the  ground 
being  apparently  like  common  earth,  and  the  materials  of  lua 
edifice  su£Bciently  solid,  they  were  unable  to  stand  upright  in 
the  dark,  and  were  constantly  tumbled  down  before  morning? 
Merlin  replied,  that  the  accident  was  in  appearance  very  per- 
verse,  but  that  the  cause  was  not  estraordinary, '  That  imme- 
diately below  the  sml  were  two  deep  pools  of  water;  below 
the  water  two  huge  stones;  and  below  the  stones  two  enor- 
mous serpents,  the  one  white  as  milk,  the  other  red  as  fire; 
that  they  slept  during  the  day,  but  regularly  quarrelled  every 
night;  and,  by  their  effbrts  to  destroy  each  oUier,  occasioned 
an  earthquake,  which  was  fatal  to  his  intended  edifice. 
Merlin  at  the  same  time  recommended  that  he  shoidd  take 
measures  to  veri^  the  tmth  of  this  relation. 

Accordingly  Vortigem  employed  his  fifteen  thousand  work- 
men. The  water  was  soon  discovered,  and,  by  sinking  wells, 
was  wholly  drawn  out.  The  two  stones  were  found  at  the 
bottom;  and,  being  with  some  difficulty  removed,  exhibited 
the  tremendous  serpents, 

With  long  tailis,  fele  fold. 
And  found  right  as  Merlin  told. 
That  one  dragon  was  red  so  fire. 
With  ^en  bright,  as  -basin  clear; 
His  tail  was  great  and  nothing  small; 
His  body  waa  a  rood  withal. 


s  body 
8  shaft 


His  shaft  may  no  man  tell ; 


Merlin  K^d,  Certei,  lir  king, 
TbtTot  nil  no  aelcaatlie.  thing. 

Jrthmtr  and  it<rlm,  p.  SS; 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


94  XiSLT  ENSIISS  XBTBtCAB  BOUANCES, 

The  vliito  dragon  lay  him  by. 
Stem  of  look,  and  griesl}^. 
His  mtmth  and  throat  yawned  wide; 
Tha  file  bfaet'  oat  ea  i1ka*  rade. 
His  tail  was  ragged  as  a  fiend, 
•  Aad,  apm hia  tailB  end, 
Ihare  was  y-shaped  a  grieAr  head. 
To  fight  with  tlM  diagoa  red. 

MeHin  had  warned  Vortigem  and  alt  (he  spectatora  dtat 
the  conflict  of  daese  raonaters  would  be  reiy  fiightflil;  but 
cnrioHitf  fbr  a  time  suspended  appFehenaiou,  till  t£e  seipents 
alowlj  nuns  &om  their  den,  and  expanding  their  enormous 
felds,  began  ihe  combat,  when  the  aatoulahed  multitude 
attempted  to  fly  on  aD  sides;  Uerlin  clapping  his  hands  and 
ahmitmg  to  encouta^  the  c^anbotants. 

The  red'  dragon,  and  1^  white. 
Hard  together  gan  Aty  mdta, 
"With  mouth,  pww,  and  witli  ta^: 
Between  hem  was  fitll  hard  batail; 
That  die  earth  dinned  tho. 
And  loathly  weath^  wax  t^erto. 
So  strong  fire  they  casten  antm. 
That  the  plains  therof  ahone, 
And  sparkled  about,  so  bright 
As  doth  the  fire  irom  thundJer-Iigfat 
So  they  fought,  for  sooth  to  Bay, 
All  the  long  sonuner's  day. 
They  ne  stinted  never  of  fighting 
Till  the  BTen-eong  gan  ring. 
So  in  that  time,  as  I  you  tell. 
The  red  dmgon,  that  was  so  fell. 
Drove  the  white  &r  adown. 
Into  the  plains,  a  great  viroun,* 
Till  thev  came  to  a  valley; 
There  they  rested  hem  both  tway, 
WeQ  the  mountaunce*  of  a  while 
That  a  man  might  gon  a  mile. 


j,,..;uL,  Google 


uauir,  FABI  I.  95 

Ani  Ane  Aa  white  oover'd'  bis  flight, 

And  w«**  Mgar  fax  to  fidtf  i 

And  eago^,  wiUKHit  bil, 

Thf  m^  dnirrm  V  gyw  nrwiil. 

Aaddaore  the  red  ri^it  Bgaiu 

TiB  he  eame  iato  die  pkin. 

And  there  tlie  white,  anon  ri^t. 

Bent*  Aft  red  witit  all  his  mi^t, 

J^A  to  dte  gratuid  he  hiiii  cost', 

Aad;  with  the  fire  of  his  Hast, 

AltogeAer  hvcnt  tile  red. 

Hist  nerer  of  him  was  finmden  dmd; 

But  Aaet  vpni  the  gtomid  he  toy ! 
The  white  saipest,  iminedi&telT  aflcr  his  'victory,  diaw- 
peared,  and  no  ms.'t  hai  huuk  discorcied  tiie  place  of  bs 
retreat. 

Uerlin,  hanng  tiu)»fidly  confirmed  tfae  tntlih  of  hu  OMOt- 
tjon,  desired  t*  be  ccmfrmited  with  Ae  Mogi;  sad  etareh 
adced  them  why  they  had  m^nstly  thirsted  after  hie  blood. 
They  humbly  leptied,  dnt  Hbax  art  had  certaiiily  deceived 
'let  dw  sigr 


them,  bat  that  me  signs  Aey  had  oheerred  in  the  heavens 
could  admit  of  no  oQt»  interpivtatiaii;  and  Merlin,  satiafied 
with  their  hnnriKation.  ex^ained  to  tham,  that  the  ngng  and 
chaiacten  which  they  had  aeen  in  the  slcy  were  written  there 
by  his  wicked  &tlteT,  who  widied  for  his  destmctioD,  Iliis 
point  being  settled,  tlte  Hagi  wrae  pardoned^  Merlin  became 
tJie  chief  connflellor  of  Vorttgern;  and  die  castle  was  com- 
pleted by  his  diraelaons  witfaoat  any  sinister  accident. 

At  length  it  was  sn^ested  to  Vorfigem  that  the  battle  of 
the  serpents,  thon^  certainly  a  snbHme  and  magnificent 
spectacle,  was  not  hkely  ta  hfcve  been  solely  intended  for  his 
amusement,  but  was  pmbaUy  the  mobol  of  some  mystery 
which  the  wisdom  of  Merlin  wonld,  tWbtless,  enable  him  to 
reveal.  He  was  tlwrefore  sent  ihr  and  questioned  by  the 
king,  bat  continned  to  manatain  a  sullen  silence  till  the  impa- 
tient monarch  inststed  on  receiving  an  answer,  and  threatened 
him  with  instant  death  as  the  punishment  of  his  contumacy. 
Tbc  prophet  answered  the  threat  with  a  smile  of  haughty 
contempt: 

^  Wuedi  gtww.  *  Sriaad. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


96  KASLT  ZITOLISH  XETBICjLE   SOXAKOIB. 

Sir,  withouten  ween,' 

That  day  ahalt  thou  never  seen. 
Though  thou  take  thy  sword  in  hond. 
Me  to  elay.  or  bring  m  bond. 
Yet  maj  thou  fiiil  of  all  they  &re,* 
As  doth  the  greyhonnd  of  the  hare. 

He  then  insisted  that,  before  he  b^an  to  answer,  the  king 
should  find  hoctoges  for  his  security ;  nor  would  he  open  bis 
lips  till  two  barons  of  the  first  distinction  and  opulence 
pledged  themselves  by  oath,  on  the  sacred  writings,  to  pre- 
serve him  from  all  danger. 

Merlin  then  began  to  explain  the  mystery  of  the  two  ser- 
pents. The  red  one,  he  observed,  was  emblematic  of  Vor- 
tigem,  who  had  obtained  the  crown  by  the  slaughter  of  King 
Moync ;  the  white,  with  its  two  heads,  represented  the  two 
rightful  heirs,  Aurelius  and  Uther,  who,  confident  in  their 
own  prowess  and  in  the  assistance  of  Britany,  were  preparing 
to  attempt  by  force  the  recovery  of  their  dominions. 
"Into  this  castle  they  shall  thee  drive. 

With  thy  children,  and  with  thy  wife. 

And  all  that  bcth'  with  thee  then. 

Into  the  ground  men  shall  you  brenne! 

And  the  king  Sir  Aungys 

Shall  be  slain,  and  hold  no  price! 

His  kindred,  and  thine  also 

Shall  don  England  mjckle  wo! 

Sir  Fortager,  this  is  the  tokening 

Of  the  dragons'  fighting. 

As  I  thee  say,  witiiouten  oath. 

Thou  shalt  it  find  seker  and  sooth."* 

Still  him  stood  Sir  Fortager, 

And  bot  his  lip  with  dreur  cheer; 

And  said  to  Merlin,  "Withouten  fail 

Tlou  must  me  tcU  some  counsail, 

Withouten  chest,*  withouten  stcife, 

How  I  may  best  save  my  life." 

Then  Merlin  gan  stand  stillj 

■  DoaU.  ■  Coone.  ■  Are. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


HZSLIM,   FAST  T.  87 

Aid  answered  him  with  wordes  griUe,* 

And  said,  "Sire,  withouteu  ween, 

Hub  it  must  needs  been ; 

And  therefore,  bo  Ood  ^re  me  rest, 

I  no  ken  no  rede' — but  do  thy  best!" 

Fortagcr  said,  "But  thou  me  tell, 

Anon  I  shall  do  thee  quell !"  * 

He  stert  up,  and  would  have  him  raught,' 

But  where  he  was  he  nc  wist  nought. 

Merlin  indeed  had  Tanished  immediately  after  the  conclu- 
riiMi  of  his  speech ;  and,  during  the  fruitless  search  of  Vor- 
tigcm  and  tia  courtierB,  was  occupied  in  relating  to  Blaise 
tl^  Torious  adventures  which  hod  befallen  him  Einee  their 
s^>aTatinn.  During  his  abode  with  this  holy  mtiu  he  com- 
piled Ins  book  of  prophecies,  comprieing  all  the  pest  and 
flitare  history  of  his  country.  Posterity  will  long  regret  that 
this  invaluable  repertory  is  so  obscure 

That  few  men,  withouten  ween. 
Can  understand  what  it  may  mean. 

Onr  author  now  passes  to  the  concluding  eronta  of  Vor- 
tigera'a  reign,  which  are  thus  introduced : 
A  merry  time  it  is  in  Hay, 
When  spnngeth  the  summers  day, 
And  damisels  carols  leadeth. 
On  green  wood  fowls  grcdeth.* 
So  in  that  time,  as  ye  may  hear, 
Two  baroni^  come  to  Fortager,  kc. 
Utey  brought  the  very  unwelcome  intelligencG  that  Aure- 
lins  Ambrosius,  and  his  brother  Uther,  having  made  good 
their  landing,  were  advanced  within  a  few  nulee  of  Win- 
chester.— >Vortigem,  without  loss  of  time,  dispatched  mes- 
sengers to  Hengist,  imploring  his  assistance;  while  other 
meaeengers  were  sent  to  Winchester  with  orders  to  provide 
againat  a  sorprise,  and  aasunncea  that  he  would  immediate^ 

)  Stem;  erwl;  hatribU.  *  AMtt.  ■  Km. 

*  Reached.  '  Sing  i — In  gmsnl  it  eiprmn  iny  orj. 

*  One  baron,  sccordinr  to  \bm  Todsn  of  tiw  romsnce  in  tlw  AacUn- 
IwkMS. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


98  EASLT  ENOLISH  KETBIUZ   BO1U1T0E9. 

march  at  the  liead  of  his  whc^  anny,  and  give  Vttle  to  tite 
invaders.  But  the  tyrant's  orders  arrived  too  late.  Hie 
dtizens  of  Winchester  no  sooner  discorered  the  banners  of 
their  ancient  soTereigns,  than  they  restdved  to  open  their 
fjotes,  and,  having  overpowered  the  resistance  of  the  garrison, 
joyiuUy  took  the  oath  a£  allcgianoe  to  the  right  heirs  of  the 
monarchy. 

On  the  approach  of  Vortigem  and  Hengist,  the  two 
l»«thers  quitted  the  city,  and  drew  out  their  anny  in  order 
of  battle ;  but,  before  the  conflict  b^an,  the  troops  of  Vor- 
tigcm  were  already  thrown  into  confiision.  Many  of  the 
British  officers,  in^gnant  at  being  combined  with  the  Saxons 
against  their  countrymen,  positively  refused  to  make  the 
attack;  and,  being  joined  by  their  troops,  boldly  resisted  the 
orders  of  Vortigem,  and  repelled  the  attempts  of  his  adherents 
to  overpower  them.  The  news  of  this  revolt  being  carried  to 
Aurelius  and  Uther,  they  instantJy  seized  the  &Toutable 
moment;  threw  the  allies  into  confusion;  and  soon  obtained 
a  decisive  victory.  The  foffitiveB  were  pumed  as  Slt  as 
Salisbury  plain,  where  Vortigfoii  took  refuge  in  his  castle ; 
but  the  Britons  having  thrown  wild'fire  over  the  walls,  the 
whole  edifice  was  soon  involved  in  a  general  conflagration. 
The  tyrant  with  his  wife  and  child  perished  in  the  flames ; 
and  the  prophecy  of  Meriin  was  tbos  rally  aoownplished. 


giiizcdt*  Google 


PART  n. 

The  following  abstract  ia  made  from  a  tnuwcript  of  the 
Auchinleck  MB.  commimicntcd  to  the  editor  hy  Sir  W.  Scott. 
ITie  author  hae  evidently  intended  to  relicTe  the  &tigue  of 
his  hearen  daring  his  long-winded  nsirativc  by  brea£ng  it 
into  Jyftet  or  cantosj  and  aa  the  expedient  appeared  at  least 
equ^y  neceseary  in  prose,  it  has  been  followed  in  this 
■bndgment. 


Caxto  I. 
After  the  death  of  Vortigem,  Utber  Fendragon  marched  to 
beside  HcogiBt  in  a  oasUe  to  whidi  he  had  retreated;  but 
the  ^orts  of  the  assailants  being  rendered  abortire  by  the 
sbQigth  of  Ute  position,  he  was  adrised  by  five  of  his  bwons, 
who  had  witnemed  the  preceding  feats  oT  Merlin,  to  apply  for 
the  assistance  of  the  magician.  Accordingly,  measengers 
were  di^atched  in  search  of  him;  and 

On  a  day,  this  messager, 
Sette  hem  olle  to  ^e  diner. 
A  beggar  ther  come  in, 
"With  a  long  herd  on  his  chin; 
A  staff  in  Ms  hond  he  badde, 
And  shoone  on  his  fete  bade. 
With  his  schuldres  he  gan  rove,' 
And  bade*  "  good  for  Oodys  lore." 
They  said  he  scholde  nought  share 
Bnt  strokes  and  bJsmare.* 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


100  XAXLT   IiraLIIH  K£TKICAX   SOUUrCES. 

The  eld  nun  uid  anon, 
"  Ye  bo  nice,'  everych  one. 
That  Bitten  here  and  skome  me. 
On  the  king'i  nedes  that  ochnld  be. 
For  to  findc  Merlin  child ! 
The  barouM  ben  witleRs  and  wild, 
Tlutt  Bontcn  men  him  to  ftechc,' 
That  nought  nc  coutho'  knowleche! 
To  day  ho  hath  yaw  oft  met; 
No  know  ye  him  never  the  bet.* 
Wendcth'  home  by  my  rede  !• 
For  him  to  find  ne  ehnl  yc  spede. 
Biddeth  him  and  the  barouns  five 
They  come  and  npcken  with  him  blyve;^ 
Ana  wf^th,*  Merlin  wil  hem  abide 
In  the  forest  here  bysidc." 

With  thcao  words  ho  vanished;  and  the  measeDgera,  as 
"tellelll  Uie  lotton  black,"  were  filled  with  wonder.  Uther, 
httvinK  heard  their  relation,  left  the  command  of  the  army 
with  nil  brother  Aurilis  Brosias  (Aurclius  AmbroainB).  and 
repaiivd  to  the  (brcst,  where  Merlin  amused  himself  at  his 
expense  bv  aMiuning  three  several  disjiuisee:  first  that  of  a 
■wine-herd;  then  that  of  a  chapman  with  a  pack  at  his  bock; 
and  huitly  that  of  a  young  and  comely  peasant, — in  which 
atutpe  ho  exhorted  him  to  hare  patience,  assuring  him  that 
Merlia  would  ki.<ep  his  ossi^poation,  though  periiaps  not  till 
lat«  at  ni^ht  At  Inst  he  amred,  announced  himself  as  Aler- 
Un,  though  still  in  his  peftsant's  shape,  and  related  that  by  his 
adriw  Auivlius  had  just  attacked  and  slain  Hengist.  Uther, 
rejoieed  by  this  news  "  as  the  birds  by  the  fii^  dawn  of  day," 
rvturocd  with  Merlin  to  the  eiaap.  and  found  his  brother  not 
1«M  astoniiihcd  than  delighted  by  his  victory,  of  which  he  was 
wnablo  to  tiive  a  vi,it  intelligible  account  till  be  leamt  from 
Uther  the  name  of  ^  pownM  counsellor  and  assistant.  At 
ttua  tine  a  ntessage  was  rec^wd  from  the  Saracens  (Saxcou) 
nqueMinjE  kaw  to  retire,  with  the  assoianee  that  titer  wonld 
WTW  BKMre  return tvinlM  diepeaiceofBritaiii:  anduiapro- 
pcMl  being  by  Mcritn'aadtviee  accepted,  and  the  tianqnillity  of 

■  Kawnakanri^B.  •  Bette. 

-  -         "     ■  •  Sij. 

J  L,  Google 


XEBLIIT,  FAKT  II.  101 

the  igtand  lestored  by  the  dmwiture  of  the  enemy,  Uther  «u 
elected  SOTerelgn,  received  the  oath  of  fealty  from  the  prin- 
cipal  borons,  and  wan  solemnly  crowned  at  Winchester,  amidat 
;b  of  the  whole  nation. 


the  brothcors  of  this  invasion,  and  at  the  same  time  informed 
than  that  one  of  them  was  destined  to  &11  in  the  dreadful 
conflict  by  which  the  triumph  of  the  Britons  must  be  pnr- 
chaeed,  but  that  the  victim  would  be  rewarded  tnr  the  crown 
of  martyrdom.  Uther  was  directed  to  make  head  agaiaat  the 
enemy  on  the  land  side,  while  Aurelios  should  attack  thcan  in 
the  rear  from  the  sea  beach ;  and  both  exerted  themaelrea 
with  the  most  desperate  valour.  But  Uther  received  fitND 
Merlin,  during  the  engagement,  a  secret  assurance  that  he 
was  not  the  person  desUned  to  go  immediately  to  heaven-, 
and  the  romance  tells  us  that  he  was  very  glad  to  hear  it. 
He  redoubled  his  efforta  to  eecore  the  victory  nearly  gained 
hy  Aurelius.  who  fell  when  the  enemy  was  already  thrown 
into  confusion;  and  these  effbrts  were  so  successful, 

That  of  thritty  thousand,  and  mo,' 
Ne  let  they  five  away  go. 
Of  our  were  slawen'  then  anon 
Three  thousand,  and  ten,  and  one. 
Three  mile  wayes,  other  two, 
Ne  might  no  man  step,  ne  go, 
Neither  on  hill  ne  on  den, 
Bot  he  stepped  on  dede  men. 
The  blode  over.nm  the  countray. 
Over  aUe  in  the  vaUey. 

The  body  of  Aurelius  was,  on  the  following  day,  care&Uy 
sought  and  interred  with  due  solemnity. 

tithcr  reigned  seven  years,  and,  scrupolously  following  in 
all  things  the  advice  of  Merlm,  distinguished  every  year  hy 
the  most  brilliant  achievements.  He  overcame  King  (^andna,* 
the  ^rant  of  Gaul,  and  became  the  suzerain  of  Hoel,  king 

■  More,  *  Slain. 

Thi)  Clnulu,  the  greit  enemy  of  Bm  and  Boort,  makes  ■  coni])]- 
caou  ligan  in  tbe  romuun  of  6ir  LannedoL 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


102  E^BLT   SKaLIIB  IfETBICAI.  BOIUNCES. 

of  Humui,'  first  husband  of  the  beantifiil  Igenut,  and  lord 
of  Oascony,  Narmandy  and  Bonlogne,  Poitou,  ChampognSt 
and  AnjoB.  He  bIm  aoquired  the  eJleKumce  of  Ban,  king  of 
Benoit  in  "leme  Briteyne,"  and  of  nia  brother  Bohort  of 
OatuiM,  two  of  the  firet  pUlais  of  chivalry.  Moreover,  he 
iaftUuted  the  round  table,  under  Merlin's  special  guidance, 
intended  to  assemble  the  best  knighta  in  the  workL  Hif^ 
birth,  grettt  strenKth,  activitj^,  and  skill,  iearlew  Talonr,  wid 
firm  fid^ty  to  iaeir  suaerain,  were  indispensably  requisite 
for  an  adnussion  into  this  order.  They  were  bound  by  oath 
to  aaaist  each  other  at  the  hazard  of  their  own  lives ;  to  at. 
tenpt  singly  the  ntoet  perilous  adventurers;  to  lead,  whoi 
neocnaiy,  a  life  of  mooastie  solitude;  to  fly  to  anns  at  the 
fint  nunmons ;  and  never  to  retire  from  battle  till  they  had 
defeated  the  enemy,  unlese  when  night  intervened  and  sq»- 
nted  the  combatants. 

This  table  gan<  Uther  the  wight; 

Ac  it  to  mde  had  be  no  might. 

For.  theygh  alle  the  lunges  under  our  lord 

Hadde  y-sittcn*  at  that  bord, 

Knig^it  by  knight,  ich  yon  t^le. 

The  table  might  nought  fulfille. 

Till  they  were  bom  Ukat  should  do  all 

Fulfill  the  mertaile  <rfthe  GreaL' 

Happy  are  the  kings  whose  ministera  happen  to  be  con- 
jurers! Uther  had  the  good  fiMtune  to  dose  the  list  of  his 
sanguinary  conqnests  by  the  lawe  Battering  though  not  very 
honourable  victory  which  he  obtained,  by  the  assistance  of 
Merlin,  over  the  beautiful  IgenM,  whom  he  enjoyed,  onder 

'  Tbe  coontiT  oT  Human  ia  nnkDowii  to  moilem  g«ognphy,  but  appeirt 
in  this  plan  lo  meu  BriteBj.  Tbe  Hod,  kin^  of  the  conoCrr,  is  perhips 
■mned  to  be  tbe  bdw  of  bin  vho  ia  cclebnted  in  Gei^tT  of  Moo- 
KoMl)  ■■  tLa  gnat  aniiteit  of  Arthmr  in  hk  Tictorini  far,  ai  ow 
loBBBGar  Imw  wtda  Un  ttw  fnt  liwtM»il  al  IpiM,  Arthar'a  MoAff, 
IhuB  baoM  thns  becoEoe  tuj  boiIt  related. 

*  Commenced.  ■  Sat. 

*  IV  Si.  Qraal  wai  tha  TCMii  in  wlucb  onr  SanDur  ate  the  lait  tapjtr 
with  hii  apoatlei,  and  i«  lablad  to  haTS  been  pitaened  bj  Jom(A  of 
Arimathea. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


mCKUK,  PAJtX  II.  108 

the  daupe  of  her  Inisband  the  duke  of  Ccwnwall,  in  Tintagfl 
caatle.  It  is  wmevaary  to  repeat  from  the  romance  the  iBiDe 
(nicTuiutancea  which,  are  rcliitcd  by  Geoffirey  of  Monmouth ; 
but  it  will  be  proper  to  obseiTe,  that  the  aubeequent  union  oi 
Utber  to  his  hir  oaptiTe  'waa  accompanied  by  the  marriages 
of  the  three  dau^ters  irhom  she  hod  borne  to  Hoel,  her  &at 
husband. 

Nantere,  king  of  Gerlot,  married  Blasine,  the  eldest,  by 
whom  he  had  a  son  named  Galaas.  King  Lot  espoused  the 
secmiil,  named  Belicent,  vho  became  the  mother  of  Qawain, 
Onevdies,  AgiaTtun.  and  Gaheriet.  The  third  was  united  to 
Urien,  king  of  Scherham,  vhoee  aon  was  (he  celebrated 
Ywain. 

Metfin,  it  seems,  had  exacted  from  Uther,  as  the  price  of 
his  conmhiisuice  in  furthering  his  majesty's  amours,  the  ab- 
K^uie  right  of  directing,  as  he  might  t^i'iV  fit,  the  nurture 
andeducationof  the  boy  who  should  result  from  them;  andno 
BMHKT  were  the  usual  festiTities  concluded  than  he  repaired 
to  Uther,  and  reminded  him  of  his  promise.  He  hod  read  in 
the  stars  that  the  wife  of  Antour,  a  nobleman  high  in  Uther'B 
erteem,  would  be  the  best  possible  nurse  for  the  child;  and 
thewfore  directed  the  king,  in  the  first  place,  to  obtain  the 
coBoeBt  of  (be  intended  foster-bther.  He  then  ei^oined  him 
tD  conceal  careftilly  from  Igema  the  identic  of 'her  unknown 
itcriAtfr  with  her  present  husband;  and,  when  she  should 
c<n]ftes  to  him  her  pr^^nancy,  that  he  should  consent  to  fbr- 
^e  her  supposed  crime,  only  on  condition  that  the  child 
shonld  be  deliTcred  to  a  person  whom  he  would  appoint,  fbr 
the  purpose  of  educating  it  in  perfect  obscurity.  All  this 
WM  punctually  performed.  Merlin  received  the  child  at  the 
palace-gate ;  conveyed  him  to  church,  where  he  caused  biin 
to  be  dmstened  by  the  niune  of  Arthur;  and  then  bore  him  to 
Antow's  wife,  who  undertook  to  suckle  him,  having  obtained 
anotfaer  nurae  for  her  own  son  Kay,  of  irtiom  she  had  been 
cecaitly  delirered.  As  these  secret  anecdotes  may  require 
acme  attestation,  the  author  assures  us  (bat  "  he  has  found 
dtem  M  lAe  black;"  and  soon  after  appeais  to  the  Srinmt,i 
wteaning  perhaps  the  Brut  or  Chronicle. 

1  "nrii  ii  BO  donbt  a  mUreadUg.    The  Brat  it,  at  conisc,  tlie  work 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


104  ZARLT  ZHOUSK  VETKICAt  KOIUNCBS. 

Artbur  grew  and  protpered  under  the  Care  of  Sir  An- 
tour^ 

He  was  feir,  and  well  agre,' 
And  was  a  thild  of  gret  noblay. 
He  was  curteys.  Sure  and  gent, 
And  wight,  aiid  hardi,  vcrament.* 
Curteyslich*  ond  feir  he  ^>ac;' 
With  him  was  none  evil  lack.' 

But  he  was  kept  in  perfect  ignorance  of  his  high  birth;  and 
TJthcr,  thongfa  he  Uvea  many  years  after  this,  expired  without 
revealing  t^  secret  either  to  Arthur  or  to  Igema.  Merlin 
however,  who  attended  him  on  his  death-bed,  assured  him 
that  his  ion  should  succeed  him,  and  that  in  hU  reign  ehould 
be  fulfilled  nil  the  wonders  of  the  San-Greal;  and  with  this 
ptomise  the  king  was  perfectly  satisfied.  He  died,  and  w«8 
buried  by  Bishop  Brico,  a  personage  of  great  sanctity  and  no 
small  importaace. 

As  soon  as  the  obsequies  of  the  late  king  were  finished,  a 
parliament  was  convened  fiir  the  purpose  of  electing  a  suc- 
cossor,  and  was  attended  by  all  the  independent  lords  and 

Erinccs  of  the  island.  But  as  Uther's  femily  was  supposed  to 
e  e:itinot,  and  numerous  candidates  brou^t  hnrtiid  their 
etitims  to  the  throne,  the  assembly  continued  to  deliberate 
durii^  sis  months;  at  the  end  of  which  they  were  so  divided 
into  (actions  as  to  preclude  all  rational  hope  ot  accommodation. 
Bishop  Brice,  on  Christmas  eve,  toot  occosion  to  address 
them ;  and  represented  that,  as  no  human  means  were  likely 
to  produce  unanimity  in  tbeii  councils  without  the  special 
jnterfcrcnce  of  heaven,  it  would  welt  become  them  to  put  up 
their  prayers,  at  that  solemn  season,  for  some  token  which 
should  manifest  the  intentions  of  provideDce  rc^»ecting  their 
futui*  sovereign.  TTiis  advice  wns  adopted ;  all  parties  prayed 
with  the  greatest  fervour, — and  with  such  success,  that  the 
service  was  scarcely  ended  when  a  miraculons  stone  was  dis- 
covered before  the  chuit^-door.  and  in  the  stone  was  firmly 
fixed  a  sword  with  the  following  words  engraved  on  ita 
hilt: 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


XBBLIIT,   fAST   II.  105 

"Icb  am  T-hotc'  EecaliboTe; 

Unto  B  KiD^  tsix  treeore." 

(On  Ii^lis  IB  diia  writmg, 
"  Kerre  steel,  and  yren,  ^d  al  Hiing.") 

Bisht^  Brice,  after  exhorting  the  luaemhly  to  oSbr  tip  their 
tbanlugivings  for  this  s^nal  miracle,  proposed  a  law,  that 
irhoever  ahould  be  able  to  draw  out  that  Bword  from  the  stone 
should  be  immediately  acknowledged  as  sovereign  of  the 
Britons;  and  his  proposal  was  instantly  decreed  by  general 
acclamation. 

King  Lot,  King  Nanters,  King  Clarien,  and  all  the  principal 
candidates,  saccessiTcly  put  their  strength  to  the  proof;  bat 
ikd  miraculous  sword  resisted  all  their  effitrts.  It  stood  till 
C^dlemas;  it  stood  till  Easter;  it  stood  till  Pentecost,  when 
tiie  best  knights  in  the  kii^om  usually  assembled  fbr  the 
annual  tournament;  and  no  one  had  been  able  to  move  it.  In 
the  mean  time  Arthur  had  been  placed,  for  the  purpose  of 
finishing  his  education,  in  the  serricc  of  King  Lot:  but  when, 
Kay  was  receiTcd,  preriously  to  the  feast  of  Pentecost,  into 
the  order  of  knighthood,  he  was  advised  by  his  &ther  to  take 
Arthur  as  his  squire;  and  the  young  hero  accordingly  attended 
his  foster-brother,  in  that  capacity,  to  the  lists.  Sir  Kay  was 
a  youth  of  great  valour  and  addr^,  (thou^,  as  the  romancer 
tells  us,  he  "  stammered  a  little,")  and,  having  orerthrowu  a 
competent  number  of  knights  wiOi  his  spear,  proceeded  into 
the  medley  with  his  sword, — which  un&rtunately  broke  in  his 
hand, — 80  that  he  was  forced  to  send  Arthur  to  his  mother  for 
a  new  one.  Arthur  hastened  home,  but  did  not  find  the  lady: 
he  had  however  observed  near  the  church  a  sword  sticking  in 
a  stone,  and  on  his  return  galloped  to  the  place,  drew  it  out 
with  great  ease,  and,  peActly  unconscious  of  having  per- 
formed a  mighty  teat,  delivered  it  to  his  master.  Kay,  who 
was  better  aware  of  its  value,  swore  him  to  secresy,  and  then, 
showing  the  weapon  to  his  &ther,  professed  his  intention  of 
chimiTig  the  throne. 

Sir  Antonr,  who  was  rather  incredulous,  insisted  that  his 
■on  should  repeat  the  feat,  lest  he  should  only  cover  himself 
with  ridicule  by  failing  in  the  entcriment  before  the  generAl 
assembly;   and  Kay,  who  hoped  that  the  charm  was  now 

>  CsDcd. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


106  BIALT    ZNOLIBH  lUTBICU.  S01UTTCE8. 

broken,  readily  repkced  the  iword  in  die  stone ;  to  vliich  the 
bUde  instantly  ftdhered  so  stronsly  that  he  was  utterly  unable 
to  remove  it.  Somewhat  abated  by  this  diacorery  of  the 
imposture,  he  confessed  to  his  &ther  that  he  had  received  the 
sword  tram  his  squire ;  and  Antour,  carrying  Arthur  to  the 
oatfaednl,  intrusted  him  with  the  secret  mtne»  (£  tbe  aword, 
praniaed  bis  best  assiBtance  in  placinff  h™  on  the  throne,  and 
mly  requested  of  bis  foster-son,  in  return  for  all  his  serrice, 
the  promise  at  ntmunating  Sir  Kay  to  the  office  of  high 
Steward ;  a  request  with  which  Arthur  joy&lly  complied. 

Sir  AjitouT  now  hastened  to  invest  bun  with  t^  order  oi 
kn^thood,  and  equipped  him  with  a  degree  of  qOendottr 
■aited  to  hU  high  pRKnaions. 

First  be  fbnd  bim  cloth  and  eradel, 
Hko  be  toai  him  stede  and  sadel; 
Helm,  and  briny,  and  haubeijoun, 
Saumben.  quiaeera,  and  aketoun.' 
Quarre  aludd,  gode  swerd  of  steel, 
And  launce  stiff,  biteaikd*  weL 
Ibere  he  gave  him,  anon-ri^ta,' 
To  bis  serrice  forty  knights. 
A-morwe*  they  went  to  tournammt. 
And  ao  there  dede,  veranient, 
llut,  cche  day.  Sir  Artbour 
Tbe  loa*  he  bare  and  the  honour. 

Antour  then  repaired  to  Bidiop  Brice,  to  inform  bim  that 
Arthur  had  performed  tbe  conditions  pointed  out  by  heayen ; 
viptax  which  tbe  good  prelate  summoned  the  general  meeting, 
before  whom  the  trial  of  the  swrardwas  several  times  repeated; 
Arthur  was  mumimou^  prgplaimed,  and  an  early  day  ap- 
pointed Usr  bis  Mdemn  can>n^im. 

Duing  the  {Rvptiratians  fin  this  cesemcmy  Heriin  arrived. 
and  communicated  to  tbe  Insbop  die  whole  mystery  of  Arflmr's 
birtb.  He  at  Ae  same  time  forewarned  him  that  the  op- 
proacbing  festival  would  not  pass  off  without  a  servece  cooteat, 
s  iinefci  of  dna  ■faii^  D>  dase 


bnastoUtn;  t 
tb«dJ|kl  ah 


uL,  Cookie 


UMMIAK,   PAST   II. 


and  the  efibnon  of  mach  blood;  hereoosiBiiendedthatAjrtlnir's 
partf  ^bould  be  streo^tlMaied  m  qniddy  Be  poasible  l^  the 
occesuon  of  Sir  Jordain,  Sir  Bretcl,  and  all  uffi  adherente  of 
Igerna;  and  above  all,  tlwt  tbei 
and  prepared  for  the  attack  of  tl 


Caitto  II. 

Mine  it  is  in  time  of  June, 
Wlwn  fenil  hangeth  abroad  in  towi; 
Ttotet,  and  nwe  flower, 
Woneth'  then  in  matd^i's  bower. 
The  Bonne  ie  b«t,  the  day  is  long. 
Foulis  rnpki*t^  min  Boncf. 
King  Arthoor  bar  ocnoun 
In  Cardoile  that  noble  town. 

Among  the  eompetitoTB  for  the  crown  wet«  alx  kiora,  dis- 
tntfaiahed  by  superior  power  or  merit;  these  were  Lot  of 
Lothias;  Nanters  oi  Oeriot;  Urien  of  Reged;  Carodas  lung 
of  Sttsngore;  Yder  king  of  the  Marches;  and  AnguisBnt  king 
of  Scotland.  Eadi  of  these  conducted  a  small  aimv  of  adhe- 
rtnts  to  Artiinr's  coronation;  attended,  in  sullen  silence,  the 
religious  ceremonies;  listened  without  any  symptoms  of  im- 
patience to  the  exhortoliaDa  of  fiiahop  Btice;  and  even  con- 
descended to  partake  of  the  venisoB,  of  the  swans,  peacocks, 
bustards,  pheasants,  partridges,  and  cranes,  as  well  as  of  the 

Eiment  and  dare,'  by  whi^  the  mass  was  ImmediBtely  fol- 
iwed.  But  when,  at  tlie  conclusion  of  ihe  feast,  Arthur  pro- 
ceeded according  to  cnstom  to  eopfrr  on  his  guests  the  inves- 
titnre  of  the  great  fie&  and  viGxxt  of  the  orown,  they  soddenfy 
roae  with  one  ticcord,  exclaimed  that  a  misbegotten  odrentnrer 
was  unfit  to  reign  orer  them,  and  attempted  to  seize  the  king's 
person.     Uerlin,  who  was  present,  deluded  the  legitdmacy  of 

'  DwelL 
*  Fimmt  wb«  ■  ipecia  of  ipioed  wine,  uid  dti  wa  >  wbtt  made  <d 
gtnta,  honey,  uul  Kromatic  ipint.    Wine  imied  witk  hone;  nd  ipiCM, 
■Ddaftamidi  itnnned,  wu  ilto  called  darj.     la  the  eait  of  EotlaBil 
■Bf  aort  of  nd  wina  it  oalled  clany  or  claret,  and  perii^pi  the  ti 
be  a  relic  of  oataa-'—" 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


UEIUtCXL  BOHAKCES. 

Arthur's  birth,  and  ttdd.  bs  intelligibly  as  &e  ooise  woold 
penoit,  his  whole  story;  but  his  eloquence  wu  unaTttilin^— 

Hie  barouns  said  to  Merlin, 
"  He  was  found  thurgh  witching  thine! 
"IVaitour,"  tbey  said,  "Terament, 

For  al  thine  enchantement, 

No  shall  never  no  bore's  atren' 

Out  king,  no  hered'  ben, 

Ac  he  Bnal  sterre*  right  anon!"^ 

Luckily  Arthur's  In^ids,  being  perfectly  armed,  rtrj  soon 
drove  before  them  their  inunense  crowd  of  enemies,  and  chas- 
ing them  quite  out  of  the  town,  shut  tbe  gates  against  them. 
Bui  though  forced  to  retreat  to  their  tents,  they  still  threat- 
ened a  speedy  vengeance;  and  their  great  numbers,  their 
valour,  and  the  smallneea  of  Arthur's  party,  which  ^d  not 
amount  to  more  than  three  hundred  and  ten  knights  and  about 
three  thousand  seven  hundred  ill-armed  inbnt^,  seemed  to 
promise  them  a  certain  and  speedy  victory.  Bishop  Brice, 
howe\-er,  having  assembled  the  whole  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
esplained  to  them  the  divine  right  of  Arthur  to  the  crown,  as 
well  as  his  hcreditnry  claim  as  son  to  Uther ;  assured  them  of 
the  assistance  of  heaven ;  and  concluded  his  haraugoe  by  these 
energetic  words: 

"Ac,  for  he  is  kii^,  and  king's  son, 
Y  curse  allc,  and  y  dom 
Hb  enranies  with  Christes  mouth. 
By  East,  by  West,  by  North,  and  South!" 

Hcrlin,  on  his  part,  was  not  less  active.  He  cast,  by  his 
enchantments,  a  sort  of  magical  wild-fire  into  the  spacious 
camp  of  the  enemy,  which  spread  a  general  confiagnttion ; 
and  whilst  they  were  bewildered  in  ids  smoke  and  almost 
deprived  of  their  senses,  directed  a  sally  from  the  town ;  by 
which  they  were  instantly  put  to  flight,  with  the  loss  of  four 
hundred  and  fifteen  (our  author  is  very  exact  in  his  numbers) 
of  their  most  fbrwnrd  combatants. 

But  the  panic  could  not  last  for  ever.  Nanters,  king  of 
Gerlot,  at  last  succeeded  in  rallying  the  fugitives,  of  whom  he 

'  Rscc;  progenj.    A.  5.  *  HMd.  *  Die;  pcriih. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


3(EBI.IIT,  PA&T  II.  109 

CoUeotod  about  ten  thousand  in  a  Tulley,  and  thieatoned  to 
dush  at  ouce  the  email  army  of  hu  punni^is. 

Arthur  geighe'  where  he  cam, 

A  stiff  launce  anon  he  nam:* 

Hia  fete  in  the  etiropcs  he  streight;' 

The  etirop  to-bent,  me  hore  aqueigbt:* 

The  >tede  he  smot,  and  he  forUi  alode  :* 

(^ain*  the  king  Nanters  he  rode. 

Arthur,  as  might  be  expected,  speedily  overthrew  this 
antagonist,  and  afterwards  King  Lot ;  and  drawing  the  ter< 
rible  Eeoalibore,  mahed  into  the  thicliest  part  of  the  press, 
and  spread  destraction  round  him.  But  bemg  stopped  by  on 
impenetrable  multitude,  and  assailed  by  the  six  kings  at  once, 
bis  horse  w^  finally  lulled,  and  himself  in  imminent  danger 
i^gaffocatioii;  when  he  was  rescued  by  Sir  Kay,  who  by  one 
thrust  of  his  lance  orerthrew  Auguisant  and  Corodas,  and, 
assiBted  by  TJlfin  and  Bretel,  mounted  the  lung  on  a  fresh 
horse.  Bnt  though  all  these  knights  performed  prodi^ea  of 
valour,  they  did  not  wholly  engross  the  honour  of  the  day. 

Here  ye  shal  nttderstond. 
That  men  o-foot,  of  this  loud, 
Heldcn  with  King  Arthour, 
And  did  hiin  well  grot  honour. 
"With  axes,  staves,  and  with  bowcj 
Did  so  that  alle  the  other  flowe,' 
And  this  kinges  flowen  also. 

ArUitir,  after  a  long  pursuit,  collected  his  men,  bestowed 
on  them  the  plunder  of  the  enemy's  camp,  returned  to 
Carlisle,  and  after  a  solemn  thank^ving,  and  a  festival  of 
fourteen  days  in  honour  of  his  victory,  was  advised  by  Merlin 
to  march  to  London,  and  there  to  summon  round  him  all  the 
great  Tossals  of  the  kmgdom,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving 
their  oaths  of  allegiance. 

At  this  asaemtuy,  Meriin,  after  representing  the  very  for- 
midable conspiracy  which  was  fbimed  against  Arthur,  rccom- 

>  Snr.  >  Tool.  ■  Stretdwd. 

*  SkDOk;  bnaUcd.  *  SU.  *  AgriDK.  I  IM. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


110  XAXLT  ENOIISH  KETSICAX  BOIUNCBS. 

mended  llut  as  embMgy  ibonld  be  sent  to  King  Ban  ot 
Benoit,  and  King  Bohort  of  Gannea,  two  of  liie  best  knighta 
in  the  world,  to  requeat  their  immediate  presence,  and  that 
Sir  Bretel  and  Sir  Ulfin  sfaonld  be  the  bearcn  of  the  ioTita- 
tion.  They  paased  the  sea ;  fonnd  on  the  frontia^  of  France 
nnd  Britany  a  vast  wilderness,  the  e£fect  of  the  long  wars 
carried  on  by  Claudas,  the  French  tyrant,  against  the  Bretons ; 
and  dviring  their  passage  through  this  demdated  ccnintry  were 
attacked  by  seven  kni^te,  partdaanB  of  King  Clandas,  of  whom 
they  slew  six,  put  the  seventh  to  flight,  executed  their  com- 
missitm,  and  returned  to  England  accompanied  by  Ban  and 
Boh(^  and  by  a  third  brother  named  Orimbaut,  a  clerk, 
only  inferior  to  the  arch-conjurer  Merlin. 

On  their  arriTal  they  were  welcomed  at  Portsmouth,  and 
in  all  the  towns  from  thence  to  London,  1^  songs  and  by 
"  hoppings"  or  dances: 

erery  strete 

Was  bi-bonged',  ich  say  forwth. 
With  many  pall,  and  many  doth. 
Ererich  man  of  each  mester* 
Hem  riden  again  with  fair  attire. 
In  eTcricfa  Btrete,  damiseles 
Carols*  ledden,  &ir  and  feles.* 

Arthur  met  them  in  great  state,  and  led  them  to  a  splendid 
entertainment;  and  after  dinner  the  royal  guests  were  much 
edified  by  listening  to  a  conrersation  between  Ueriin  and 
Grimbaut,  which  ucy  could  not  understand,  ccmceming  the 
**  quaintise"  and  contriTance  of  the  sphere,  the  son,  moon, 
stars,  and  other  "privy  works."  Ihey  then,  being  fiilly 
satisfied  by  Meriin  as  to  the  validity  of  Arthur's  titl^ 
swore  fealty  to  him,  and  afterwards  proceeded  to  a  faniina- 
ment ;  which  most  have  been  very  magnificent,  because  the 
author  enumerates  fourteen  knights  whose  feats  of  arms  were 
particularly  noticed.  These  were  Bir  Kay,  Sir  Lucan  the 
Butler,  Sir  Grifles,  Sir  Maruc,  Sir  Gumas,  Sir  Flacides,  Sir 
Driens,  Sir  Hotias,  Sir  Graciens,  Sir  Uarlians,  Sir  Flandrins, 
Sir  Heleord,  Sir  Drukius,  and  Sir  Breoberins.     These  festa- 

'  Hnf.         >  Tnds,  A.N.  Dtoces.  •  NrawmB. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


uii.  in 

vkiea  bdng  coded,  H«riin  at  1«>*rA  exi^aiited  to  the  two 
kisp  die  great  porposea  for  whioi  he  had  Teqnested  tiitix 
pMMOM;  tfae  fiiKt  of  whidi  was,  tbat  they  sbonld  aanst  King 
Ar&Tir  m  obt&inmg  the  hmd  of  Ouesever,  the  dan^ter  M 
Leodieai,  king  of  Oamudidfi,  and  tliat  with  tiiia  view  they 
dKmU  (tiMonifit  King  Rion,who,  at  the  head  of  twenty  tribn- 
taiy  aomcisiia,  was  ""^^g  war  on  die  said  Leodigan.  Hie 
odier,  tkat  &ey  dionld  join  Artfaur  with  a  body  of  twenty-fi** 
tlKNUsnd  msa;  wheret^  be  would  be  enaUed  to  oreroome 
eleven  ki^a  and  one  dnke,  who  were  at  that  moment  in 
rdidlion  agaiiot  him,  and  were  actually  CBCamped,  with  a 
vaat  amy,  in  the  fbreat  of  Rockingham. 

Ban  and  Bohort  readily  admitted  the  importance  at  both 
these  obiects,  bat  allied  that  they  were  themselves  in  honriy 
danger  fr(»n  the  enterprises  of  their  old  enemy  Claudae,  irito 
was  then  solicitii^  a  powerfol  allianoe  against  them;  and 
diat  before  they  could  reach  Britanj,  collect  their  fbrcea,  and 
return  to  Rockingham,  the  eleven  kings  would  probably  be 
masteia  of  Loudon.  Merlin,  however,  was  by  no  nteans 
diseoon^ed  by  these  difficuttieB.  He  pvmised  them,  on  th« 
foith  of  a  necromancer,  that  they  should  not  suffer  any  damage 
from  ClMafais,  and  that  the  snocouiB  whi<^  he  requested  frcnn 
them  riionld  be  ready  in  dne  time.  He  then  conducted  Sir 
Ulfin  and  a  strong  ganison  to  Rockingham  oastle,  with 
instructions  to  guara  every  pass,  snd  to  prevent  the  pawge 
•f  any  spies  from  the  enemies'  forces;  ai^  which,  returning 
to  LoBdon,  and  obtaining  the  rings  of  Ban  and  BcAoit  as 
^mbols  cf  tiie  authority  under  which  he  acted,  he  passed  m 
me  tuffht  to  Britany;  assembled,  with  the  assistance  rf  % 
Leontes  and  Sir  Parien,  the  lieutenants  of  the  two  kings,  an 
Kmy  (tf  f<Mty  thousmd  men;  left  fifteen  thousand  fiw  tihe 
definoe  of  the  coontry;  deposited  twenty-five  tbonsand  at 
RookingfaaTO ;  and,  tmeexiDg  very  nnexpectedh'  in  the  pre- 
waae  <rf  Arthur  and  his  two  guests,  advised  that  the  royal 
an^  sbould  immediately  begin  its  march. 

Tae  rebel  kings,  who  had  formed  their  camp  in  the  fbrest 
of  Bockingham,  were  ten  in  number:  viz.  Crarion  king  ti 
Nivdrambeiiand,  Brangores  king  of  Strangore,  Cradelnutn  of 
Nurth  Wales,  and  a  c^tain  long  citUed  Agragines,  ^loee 
domiition  in  very  iar  north,  and  who  is  usually  di»tin> 
gnrisd  by  1M  title  of  "Im^ffif  the  hundred  knights;"  and 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


112  ZABLT  E^IGLISH   UETBICli;  HLOHAHOSS. 

Olb  six  who  hftTe  been  alieadf  enumerated.  Eslas  or  Eniilai^ 
earl  of  Arundel,  had  obo  joined  their  forces,  and  this  fonm< 
dable  confederacy  hud  ossembled  &a  army  of  forty  thousand 
men.  They  thought  themselves  BctMire  of  victory,  because  th^ 
knew  that  Arthur's  forces  amounted  to  no  more  than  fifteen 
thousand;  and  were  ignorant  of  the  lai^  reinforeementa 
which  Merlin,  by  a  stroke  of  necromancy,  had  so  recently 
amused  over  from  Britany.  They  were  therefore  on  the  point 
a£  being  Burprised  in  their  camp ;  but  Lot.  having  very  luckily 
dreamt  a  had  dream,  sent  out  a  number  of  scouts,  who 
fiJling  in  with  Arthur's  army  on  itfl  march,  spread  the  alarm, 
and  gave  time  to  the  troops  to  seize  their  arms.  Meriin, 
however,  by  a  vew  enchantment,  caused  all  the  tents  to  &11 
down  at  once;  and  the  confusion  thus  produced  forced  tlia 
enemies  to  retreat  some  miles,  during  which  they  lost  about 
one-fburth  of  their  numbers.  A  long  and  obstinate  encounter 
then  took  place,  in  which  many  fell  on  both  udes  by  wounds 
which  exhibit  great  anatomical  variety;  but  at  length  the 
confederated  kings  were  totally  routed;  and  Arthur,  aAer 
bestowing  the  pillage  of  their  camp  on  his  friends  Ban  and 
Bohort,  returned  with  them  to  London. 

Metiin  now  assured  him  tbat  he  had  nothing  more  to  fear 
from  the  rebels;  thata  dreadfiil  famine,  which  would  q>eedily 
be  felt  all  over  the  country,  and  the  approach  of  new  Saxon 
invaders,  would  shortly  compel  his  rivals  to  court  his  pro- 
tection; that  nothing  remained  for  him  but  to  amass  a  large 
stock  of  provisions,  which  he  must  diq>erse  amongst  lus 
fortified  towns,  and  to  put  his  whole  army  in  garrisons;  that 
he  should  presently  receive  a  strong  reinGircement  of  young 
and  valiant  kni^ts,  who  would  become  the  inBtruments  u 
his  fiiture  victories;  and  that  he  might  now  dismiss  his 
Breton  auxiliaries,  reserving  only  their  two  leaders.  Ban  and 
Bohort.  Finally  he  invited  bim  to  a  meeting,  within  a  few 
days,  at  the  town  of  Breckenho,  between  England  and  Car- 
melide,  and  suddenly  vaniabed  from  their  sight. 

Arthur  punctually  followed  the  advice  of  his  counsellor, 
and,  having  completed  his  preparations,  repaired  with  his 
friends  to  Breckenho.  But  MerUu,  though  now  by  profession 
B  minister  of  state,  was  alwaya  by  taste  a  conjuror,  and 
delimited  in  playing  tricks  upon  the  sovereigns  whom  he 
ptotected.    His  now  met  Arthur  and  his  company  in  the 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


XXBLIir,  PABT  II.  1 13 

di^nise  of  an  old  "charle"  (pefumnt)  with  a  bow  and  arrows, 
shot  in  their  presence  n  couple  of  wild-ducks,  and,  on  Arthitr's 
propoKDg  to  cheapen  them,  took  occasion  to  banter  him  prcttr 
sercrcly  for  bis  avnricc.  Having  at  length  made  bimseif 
known,  he  was  received  with  due  honours,  and,  finding  it 
necessary  to  detain  the  conrt  daring  some  weeks  at  Breckenbo, 
made  Arthur  amends  by  procuring  for  him  on  interriew  with 
the  iair  Lyanor,  daughter  of  a  certain  Earl  Bweyn,  a  damsel 
who  bad  repaired  to  the  king  for  the  purpose  of  doing 
homage,  and  thus  incidentally  obtained  the  honour  of  giving 
birth  to  a  son  who  was  afterwards  a  knight  of  the  round 
table.  The  name  of  this  "kn^ht  of  mound"  is  not  mm- 
tioned.' 

Canto  III. 

In  time  of  winter  alange*  it  is! 
The  foules  lesen  ber  b^! 
The  leves  Mien  off  lie  tree; 
Rain  alangeth*  the  cuntree: 
Maidens  leseth'  her  hewe; 
Ac  ever  hi  lovieth*  that  be  trewe! 

lltese  moral  reflections  are  occaaioned  bj  the  author'a 
change  of.  bis  subject.  He  now  carries  us  to  the  ekven 
Icings,  who,  at  the  moment  of  their  greatest  distress  in  con- 
sequence of  their  late  defeat,  received  intelligence  that  a  vast- 
body  of  Saxons  was  landed  in  the  conntry,  aiyi  that  their 
whole  remaining  force  would  probably  be  insufficient  to  make- 
head  against  this  new  and  ibrmidable  enemy.  In  this  exi- 
gency it  was  proposed  by  Craddman,  king  of  North  Wales, 
that  they  should  separate  their  forces;  that  each  diMild  col- 
lect around  him  a  ohoscn  body  of  men,  and  retire  to  the 
strongest  posts  in  their  respective  dominions;  and  that,  by 
carrying  on  a  predatory  war  against  the  invaders,  they  should 
cut  off  by  degrees  their  means  of  subsistence  in  the  interior 
of  the  country.  This  advice  was  unanimously  adopted ;  and 
they  coDtinaMl  to  deCind  themselveB  in  their  sevcnu  capitals, 

'  Id  Maloty'i  Morte  d'Arthnr  he  ia  called  Bom. 
>  TedioD*,  iikiome.  ■  Renden  irkiome. 

'  Low.  *  Tbtj  lov«. 


J  t,  Google 


1 14  ZAALT  ENOIUH  KSTUCIX 

(of  which  tfao  aainas  and  sitnations  are  equally  uniatelligiUie,) 
dnring  five  jean  of  bloodv  but  obscure  warfiu«;  while  their 
sidijectB,  too  much  harassed  t«  sow  or  gather  in  tlieiT  har- 
Tcato,  were  periahinc  is  Rreat  numbera  throogh  vant  and 
miseiy.  Cradelman  mmself  was  much  infested  by  a  wicked 
witch  his  oei^bour,  aistet  to  a  toiuhn  called  Hw^ogabian, 
a  pagan  conjurra'.  Her  name  was  Caimile;  and  she  wae 
searoely  infenor,  in  knowledge  of  the  Mack  art,  to  the  cele- 
brated MotgaJB,  who  "  b^uiied  the  good  deik  Merlin." 
'  So  general  was  the  scene  of  misery,  that  Britain  seemed  to 
be  on  the  Terge  of  its  total  rain:  but  hearen  was  now  px- 
paricg  the  means  (^  its  deliveranoe,  and  a  new  generation 
was  rising  to  repair  the  mischiefs  produced  by  the  rebellion 
of  the  conibderate  kings.  Brangore  had,  abont  this  time, 
espoused  Indianes,  the  widow  of  the  king  of  "  Hungary  and 
Blaike;"  and  Sagremore,  her  son  by  this  foreign  husband,  a 
kni^t  of  the  most  undaunted  valour,  was  preparing  to  come 
to  Britain,  to  receiye  the  order  of  knighthood  from  the  bands 
of  King  Arthur.  The  same  project  was  formed  about  the 
same  time  by  a  email  band  of  young  heroes  within  this  island ; 
and  the  author  of  the  romance  has  employed  the  remainder  of 
this,  and  the  whole  of  the  fbUoving  canto,  in  relating  their 
achievements. 

"ne  reader  will  remember  that  Nantsrs,  king  of  Oeriot,  had 
nairied  Blasine,  uterine  sisto'  to  Arthur,  and  had  by  he^  a 
BOB  named  Oalachin.  King  Lot  had  married  Belisent,  the 
other  daughter  of  Yeerna,  and  had  four  stms,  Wawain  or 
Oawain,  Oueheret,  Gaoeriet,  and  Agravain.  Oalachin,  having 
observed  that  the  progreos  of  the  enemy  was  chiefly  owing  to 
want  of  union  among  the  Britons,  one  day  inquired  of  his 
mother  Blasine  wheuer  Arthur  was  indeed  his  uncle;  and 
on  being  told  by  ber  that  it  was  so,  and  that  be  could  not  be 
better  emplOTed  than  in  producing  a  reconciliation  between, 
his  nntite  and  his  &thw,  he  determmed  to  undertake  the  task, 
and  to  associate,  if  possible,  bis  cousiji  Oawain  in  the  saute 
projeot.  Gawain  was  <m  a  hunting  par^  when  Oalachin's 
mcsBcnger  arrived;  and,  returning  to  his  mother  with  his 
-diree  gr^honnds  in  one  hand  and  three  nuAo*'  in  the  otber, 
was  reoeiTed  with  reproaches  fi>r  the  futility  of  bis  amnse- 


jt,  Google 


UEBI.IV,  PAXX  II.  Itfi 

"  Thnn  IsKst '  thy  time  witli  uiuiglit } 
Tbrn  liMt  a^  to  ben  kni^t. 
"Hum  ihidt  leten*  thy  tcA^ 
Tbyngo*  and  thy  rilnndie.' 
ISiffile  OK  thine  ema '  King  Artbonr, 
Kai^it  that  is  of  meBt*  valouT. 
Jkadfaui^  to  make  good  aeard 
HtUmttu him  and  Lot  Ihy  lord!" 
Hisr  uhe  told,  him  before. 
How  Arthoui  was  bigeten  and  bore,  ttc. 

Oawain  escnsed  hinuelf  by  alleging  bis  ignorance  of  thex 
paitieiitaTs,  He  ndi^patcbed  the,  meeeenser  of  Qalachin 
with  MBumicefl  that  he  vonldBhortly  join  hun;  aad,  finding 
dnt  his  thTee  brotheca  were  resolved  on  the  same  adventure, 
Awiwd  Boliaent  to  ftunisb  them  with  anna  and  a  proper 
nomber  of  attcndanta;  repaired  at  their  head  to  "  the  hxr  of 
KoaUsod,"  the  ^pointed  place  of  meeting;  and,  embradiw 
QdaiAin,  joyfully  auociated  bim  in  the  enteipnae,  and  fiied 
a  duf  fin^  their  rpnT*^  towardfl  Tjinflnn, 

Cajito  IV. 

Uiri  is  ih'  entr£  of  Hay; 

Hie  ibwlea  make  mirie  play; 

MniiTfTip  singeth,  and  maketfa  play; 

TbB  time  is  not,  nod  long  the  day. 

tix  jfdif '  nightingtile  eingcth. 

In  the  greae  mede  flowers  sprii^^elh. 
Lot  and  Bcdisent  equipped  their  four  boub  tar  thair  gntt 
expeditaon  with  the  utmoBt  magnifioence;  and  anembled  to 
atttod  them  five  hundred  young  man,  aona  of  coili  and 
banma,  nil  monnted  on  the  beat  bones,  with  complete  auits  of 
choice  armour,  and  all  habitod  in  the  aame  cloth.  Of  thia 
splendid  troop,  nine  only  had  yet  tvoraved  the  order  of 
Imi^hthood:  uie  reat  were  csndicuitea  ibr  that  honour,  and 
1  to  earn  it  by  an  early  »»nfmiTitiw  with  the  enemy. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


lis  I^BLT  ZXSltHB  KETBICIX  BOKinCXI. 

The  four  princea  teceiTcd  the  parental  benediction,  and  de- 
parted for  tlw  place  of  rendeKvoug  appointed  by  Qalachin, 
who  met  them  with  a  similar  troop  of  two  hundred  men  ap- 
pointed by  Nonters  and  Blasine  to  attend  him. 

AAer  a  march  of  three  days,  they  anired  in  the  vicini^  of 
London,  where  they  expected  to  find  Arthur  and  his  court, 
and  Tery  unexpectedly  fell  in  with  a  lai^ge  convoy  belonging 
to  the  enemy,  consisting  of  seven  hundred  mimpter  horses, 
scren  hundred  carts,  and  fire  hundred  waggons,  ell  loaded 
with  prOTinonB,  and  escorted  by  three  thotuand  men. 
For  the  pondre '  of  this  charging, 
No  might  man  see  sonne  shining. 

Indeed  the  dust  was  considerably  increased  by  the  number 
of  Kigidves  from  the  whole  neighbouring  country,  who,  with 
shrieks  which  "  shrilled  into  the  clouds,"  attempted  to  escape 
frmn  their  burning  houses,  and  from  the  mdiscriminate 
sUugbter  exercised  by  the  spoilen.  Oawain's  small  army 
&SbAed  a  retreat  to  these  frightened  peasanta,  and  a  rallying 

K'nt  to  abont  five  hnndred  soldiers  who  were  also  flying 
ore  the  enemy;  and  fitun  these  he  leamt  the  absence  of 
Arthur,  who  was  then  conducted  by  Merlin  to  the  assistance 
of  Leodegan;  the  general  desolation  of  the  country;  and  the 
necessity  of  a  speedy  efibrt  to  retrieve  the  affiurs  of  the 
Britons.  A  ungle  charge  from  Gawain's  impetuous  cavalry 
was  su£Scient  to  recover  the  convoy,  which  was  instantly  dis- 
patched to  London;  and  the  escort,  though  much  more  nu- 
merous than  the  assailants,  being  thrown  into  conflision  by 
this  very  unexpected  attack,  were  so  rapidly  cut  to  pieces, 
that  no  more  than  twenty  men  were  able  to  escape,  and  to 
cury  to  the  neighbourin?  army  of  Saracens  the  news  of  this 
astfraishing  disaster.  Their  panic  indeed  was  excusable,  aa 
they  had  never  encountered  any  enemies  at  all  comparable  to 
these  youthiiil  heroes,  and  particulariy  to  die  formidable 
Gawoin: 

For  aime  none,  y-vimigbt  with  bond, 

Ogain  his  dent'  no  mighte  stond. 

That  he  tok,  he  all  ta-rat,' 

So  dust  in  wind;  and  abonte  drof!* 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


HBSLIM,  PAST  II.  Ii7 

The  autbor  here  takes  occasion  to  infbim  us  of  a  cinmm. 
Btanco,  very  notoriooe  at  the  time  of  these  events,  and  cer- 
tainly no  less  curious  than  important,  viz.,  that  the  strength 
of  Cbwain,  though  always  surpassing  that  of  common  ineo, 
-was  subject  to  considerable  oscillations,  depending  on  the 
^tigress  of  the  son.  From  nine  in  the  morninK  till  noon  his 
muscular  powers  were  doubled;  from  thence  till  three  o'clock 
m  die  afternoon  they  relapsed  into  their  ordinary  state ;  from 
three  till  the  time  of  even-song  they  were  again  doubled; 
after  which  this  preternatural  accession  of  strength  again 
subsided  till  day-break.  The  poet,  therefore,  had  reason  to 
relate  with  some  exultation  that  this  great  victory  was 
achieved  about  noon,  or  shortly  after. 

In  the  mean  time,  one  half  of  the  twen^  paynims  who  had 
escaped,  ibll  in  with  a  body  of  seven  thous^id  unbelieving 
Irishmen,  and  brought  them  back  to  the  attack  of  the  five 
princes  and  of  their  uttle  army.  Oawain,  singling  out  a  king 
called  Choas,  who  was  fourteen  feet  high,  began  OiB  battle  by 
splitting  him  from  the  crown  of  l^e  head  to  the  breast.  Oa^ 
Iftchin  encountered  King  Sani^ran,  who  was  also  very  huge, 
and  cut  off  his  head.  Agravam,  having  no  kings  immediately 
within  his  reach,  amused  himself  with  the  necks  of  plebeians, 
which  he  cut  throng  by  dozens  at  a  time;  till  he  formed  a 
circle  of  dead  bodies  to  his  satisfaction.  Oaheriet  was  em- 
ployed in  the  some  manner,  when  he  was  colled  off  from  this 
vulgar  prey  by  the  desire  of  killing  a  certain  King  Qrinbat, 
whom  he  saw  in  the  act  of  overthrowing  his  brother  Oneheret. 
Gtinbat,  who  had  witnessed  Oaheriet's  prowess,  wi^ed  to 
decline  the  contest,  and  galloped  off  the  field  at  taH  speed  till 
he  reached  a  valley,  where  a  fresh  army  of  eight  tiiousand 
paynims,  conducted  1^  the  other  ten  fugitives,  was  advancing 
to  join  the  battle.  Here  he  expected  to  find  refuse;  bnt 
Oaheriet,  pursuing  him  into  the  crowd,  discharged  a  olow  at 
him,  which  cut  off  a  quarter  of  his  helmet,  one  of  bis  cheeks, 
a  shoolder,  and  an  arm.  He  young  prince  now  attempted, 
in  his  turn,  to  retreat;  but  though  he  easily  cut  his  war 
through  the  enemy,  he  was  closely  pursued  t^  numbers,  tul 
at  lei^th,  his  horse  being  killed  under  him,  he  vros  compelled 
to  fight  singly  and  on  foot  against  a  host  of  enemies. 

Fortonately,  one  of  his  attendants,  who  had  witnessed  his 
impetuous  pursuit  of  Qrinbat,  foresaw  the  danger,  and  has> 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


lis  EASLT  £MaLI8H  lfETRICA.L  BOUAMCEH. 

tened  to  Gawain  with  die  intelligence.  Tliat  prinoe,  lui  two 
brothers,  and  Oalachin  ioBlaiitly  flew  to  the  Teeoiie  of  Ga- 
herifit,  bore  down  or  killed  all  before  them,  ajid  at  length 
found  the  hero  on  the  ground,  nearly  eihansled  hj  heat  Kid 
&tigue,  and  imronnded  by  a  crowd  of  vnlgar  enemies,  ^n^ 
had  already  begun  to  unlace  his  helmet,  and  %fere  preparing 
to  out  off  hia  head;  when  they  were  direrted  from  thdr  pur- 
pose by  the  niddon  amputation  of  their  own.  Oaheriet  being 
now  supplied  with  a  fresh  horse,  the  five  knights  mads  s  iea~ 
perate  enarge.  cut  their  way  out,  and,  tiiongh  harassed  in 
their  retreat,  rejoined  their  little  ann^. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  convoy,  which  they  had  intercqited 
and  sent  to  London,  having  reached  that  city  in  safety,  the 
Borutable  or  mayor,  whose  name  was  Sir  Do,  learnt  the  ivry 
unequal  conflict  in  which  the  young  princes  had  been  ei^i^ed; 
and  having  pro4;ceded  to  Algste,  where  he  blew  his  hom,  and 
thus  collected  the  Beveral  aldermen  of  the  ci^  widi  tlwir 
respective  wards,  amounting  to  seven  thousand  men,  ordered 
tfa«an  to  arm,  and,  leaving  two  thounuidto  gnaid  the  city,  pot 
himself  at  the  head  of  five  thousand  snd  marched  out  to  the 
reaone  of  Oawain.  It  was  now  past  three  o'elodc;  and 
Qawain's  sticngth  becoming  donbled,  he  astonidted  friends 
tud  foes  by  his  supematuial  prowess. 

In  blood  he  stode,  ieh  it  abowe,- 

Of  horse  and  man  into  the  ouclowe," 

Ihat  he  hadde  himselve  y-slawe, 

Withouten  sleight  of  his  felawe.* 

In  this  situation  he  saw  a  pagan  on  Qx  point  of  killing  his 
brother  Agrazoin.  and  suddenly  leaping  two-ond-twrarty  feet 
over  the  heads  of  his  own  assailants,  clove  the  misbelieving 
wretch  to  the  girdle,  and,  springing  into  tfae  empty  saddle, 
again  dashed  into  the  midst  of  his  enemies. 

The  arriyal  of  the  Londoners  soon  decided  the  contest. 
Gimbating,  one  of  the  Saraoen  kings,  was  already  tloin; 
Medelan,  his  associate  in  tlie  command,  after  felUng  Sir  Do, 
was  killed  by  Gawain;  and  the  trocnw,  now  without  a  leader, 
fled  in  all  directions,  and  were  slaughtered  without  resistance. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


IfXXXIK,  PAST  II,  lis 

the  prinooB,  luving  tlnu  in  oas  day  annihilated  three  wies 
tt  the  enemy,  proceeded  to  London,  where  Oawam  direoted 
Sir  Do  to  divide  the  whole  booty  amongst  the  cidzeBS,  aad 
tfctic  added  coasideTaUy  to  -the  acclamations  with  whidt  they 
b«d  alraady  welcomed  their  noble  ddntneit. 


Cakto  V. 

Marche  is  hot,  miri,  and  long; 
Fowlee  singen  her  aong ; 
Bnijoiims  springeth,  medea  greeneth; 
Of  every  thing  flie  heart  kanieth.' 

Arthnr  departed  fimi  Breckcnbo  and  uriTed  at  Guofaaiw, 
,  the  cental  of  Cumelide,  attended  onlv  by  Merlin,  and  hj 
tUr^.nine  kni^t«  whom  the  m^iman  nad  ejected  tot  that 
mricc  Leodegan  was  at  that  nomeat  nttiiig  in  oowwil 
with  hie  ksigbts  of  Qie  ronod  table,  two  hnudred  and  fifty  ta 
niimber,  wlio  had  all  been  nominated  by  Uther  Pendiwon, 
and  ^aoed  nsder  the  oommand  of  Ham  the  Rietl  end  MiBoi 
At  Broum,  two  knights  of  approved  valour  and  experience: 
and  they  were  then  endeavooring,  but  with  little  praepeot  of 
RKCCM.  to  deriee  means  of  resiffting  the  impending  attack 
fron  Ryanee,  king  erf  Ireland,  who,  widi  fifteen  tribntary 
kings  and  an  abnoat  innnnnenble  aimy,  liadneariy  noTomtded 
the  tUv,  and  was  prepming  to  aaanlt  tb  walls. 

Heriin  hahed  Ins  company  at  the  door  of  the  ccnncil-hall, 
wmaed  tbem  to  alight,  and  nurched  them  in  proceesifflt  vp  to 
tike  throne,  where  Ban  was  directed  to  addreat  the  king  in  a 
qwech  which  he  had  previously  learned  at  BFeekenbo.  And 
Mte  the  author  tianks  that  it  will  be  very  oomlbrtable  to  Ui 
bearers  to  know  the  names  of  ibe  ilhubious  characten  who 
fenned  this  praceseion;  they  are  as  follow: 

Arthnr  was  aapported  on  his  ri^t  by  King  Ban,  and  on  his 
kA  by  KingB<dtort;  the  rcat  fialtowed  hand  in  hand,  but  in 
pairs.  These  were.  Sir  AntoBr,KrDlfin,  Sir  Bretel,^Ki?, 
Sir  Lucan,  Sir  Do,  son  of  the  mayor  of  Iiondon,  Sir  Griflee, 
Sir  Uoroc,  Sir  Diians  of  the  forest  souvage,  Sir  Bellas  of 

'  BsMBM  etnmtlj  inAnel  tat.    ,  ,   ^ 

D,j„..;uL,Goo^lc 


ISO  XABLT  SKGLISH  V ETHICAL  XOlfAKCES. 

HnidcD  CosUOi  Sir  FlEuidrin,  Sir  Lamnuu,  Sir  Amoura  th« 
firowQ,  Sir  Ancales  the  Red,  Sir  Bleobel,  Sir  Bleobeiis,  Sir 
Conode.  Sir  Alndan  the  Crisp,  Sir  Colatidce,  Sir  Lampades, 
Sir  Lcrciu,  Sir  Christopher  of  the  Kochc  North,  Sir  Aigilin, 
8ir  CiJogrevand,  Sir  Angusalc,  Sir  AgrsTel,  Sir  Cleodes  the 
Foundling;,  Sir  Giaures  of  Lambalc,  Sir  Aehediu,  Sir  Merengis, 
Sir  QoTMun,  Sir  Craddock,  Sir  ClorieB,  Sir  fihebartis.  Sir 
Antadon  the  Orgulous,'  Sir  Oioman  hardy  of  heart.  Sir  Gales- 
Gound,  and  Sir  Blchcris,  a  goilson  of  Kuig  Bohort.  Merlin, 
who  boro  tho  white  rod  before  Arthur,  completed  the  number. 

Those  who  may  bo  disposed  to  glance  their  eye  siightiugly 
over  this  edifying  catalogue  should  be  told,  that  the  names 
thus  divulged  to  them  were  corefiilly  concealed  firom  King 
Lcodegan ;  and  that  Baa  was  only  permitted  to  tell  him,  in 
answer  to  his  many  inquiries  respecting  this  noble  troop, 
that  "  they  wcro  sbvigen  who  came  to  offer  him  their  ser- 
rices  in  his  won.  but  under  the  express  conditioD  that  they 
should  be  at  liber^  to  ctmceal  their  names  and  quality,  until 
they  should  think  proper  to  give  him  further  infbmtation." 
Iheso  terms  were  thought  very  strange  and  unprecedented, 
but  were  thankfully  accepted;  and  the  strangers,  after  taking 
the  usual  oath  to  the  king,  retired  to  tl^  lodging  which 
Merlin  had  prepared  for  them. 

A  frw  days  after  this,  the  enemy,  regardless  of  a  truce 
into  which  they  hod  entered  with  Leodegnn,  suddenly  issued 
from  their  camp  to  the  number  of  sixty  thousand  men; 
made  an  unexpected  attempt  to  surprise  the  city;  and,  being 
disappointed,  spread  themselres  orer  the  country,  and,  after 
eorrying  off  as  much  booty  aa  they  could  collect,  proceeded 
to  put  oU  the  inhabitants  to  the  sword.  On  this  alarm 
Cleodalis,  the  king's  steward,  assembled  the  rc^^  fiuces 
with  all  possible  dispatch;  these  amounted  to  about  five 
thousaitd  men.  The  two  hundred  and  fifty  knights  oi  the 
raund  taUc  soon  joined  him.  and  waited  for  the  king's  mien. 
Arthur  and  his  conqMrnoos  also  6ew  to  anna;  and  Holin 
appeared  at  thor  heaid,  bearing  a  standaid  wUdii  exdled,  anl 
not  without  naaoB,  aniTenal  ostmiiahment. 
Upon  the  top  stode  a  dragoun, 
Swithe  gnsdidi,*  with  a  utel  cnnm ; 

>  na|itMi,A.N.  *  Ornifiot.  fright&L 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


inBUV,  tAAT  II.  131 

Fast  him  beheld  nlle  in  the  town! 
For  the  moutke  he  badde  grinninge, 
And  the  tongc  Dut-plAtting,* 
That  out  keat  sparkes  of  for,' 
Into  the  skies  thot  flowen  cler. 
'Hub  dragoua  hadde  a  longe  taile. 
That  was  wither- hooked,'  sans  bile. 
Merlin  cam  to  the  gate. 
And  bode  the  porter  him  out  late. 

The  porter,  of  courBe,  refused,  and  requested  him  to  await 
the  king's  orden;  but  Merlin,  taking  up  the  gate  with  all  its 
^tpurtenanoes  of  locks,  bolts,  iron  bars,  &c.,  directed  his 
troop  to  pass  thiough ;  after  which  he,  without  dismounting, 
replaced  it  in  perfect  order,  eet  spun  to  his  horse,  and  da^ed  at 
the  head  of  his  little  troop  into  a  body  of  two  thousand  Saracens 
who  were  leading  to  their  camp  a  convoy  of  provisions.  To 
discomfit  these  miscreants,  and  to  retake  the  convoy,  was  the 
woik  of  about  twenty  minutes ;  but  on  their  return  towards 
the  city,  thev  met  a  second  convoy  of  a  thousand  carts  escorted 
by  sixteen  thousand  men.  The  disparity  of  numbers  being  so 
enormous,  Merlin  thought  it  worth  while  to  cast  a  spell  among 
Ute  enemy,  whom  his  troop  charged  with  their  usual  gallantry, 
and  proceeded  to  cut  in  pieces  with  all  possible  expedition. 
But  tbe  people  in  the  city,  who  beheld  this  strangely  unequal 
contest,  were  ashamed  of  leaving  the  small  body  of  strangers 
to  their  &te. 

Tho  were  up-undone  the  gate; 

Cleodalis  rode  out  thereat. 

The  steward,  with  five  thousinde, 

Opon  the  pavnima*  gun  to  wende.* 

There  was  dm!  there  was  cry! 

Many  shaft  broken,  sikcrly.' 

For,  in  the  coming  of  Cleodalis, 

The  payens  might  sen,'  y-wis. 

There  was  swidie  contek*  and  wonder, 

Hint  it  dinned  so  the  thonder. 

>  Oul-pMHiig,  loDing  oat.         *  Ar,  fire.        *  Wilier'hoaitil,  barbed. 

*  Hcithai*.  *  Btgin  to  go.  ■  Snrelf ;  certainlf. 

'Hi^NC;  <■«., they t^ooreml Uidr ri^      ■  IMwte.  Hence,  coatert. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


123  EASLT  EHGLIBH  XSTBIGAI.  SOKJLKCEB. 

Leodegan,  at  tbe  ume  time,  dhaiged  at  the  head  of  two 
thousand  picked  men,  and  of  fifty  kni^ts  of  his  round  table, 
and  the  remaining  two  hundred  kni^^its  formed  a  third  sepa- 
nte  divinon  of  his  small  army.  But  the  Sanoens,  having  at 
length  united  all  their  force*,  were  euaUed  to  mjpose  to  each 
of  these  diTiaiona  a.  prodigious  superion^.  liie  knights  of 
the  round  table,  unable  to  besr  Tip  i^ainst  the  multitude  of 
their  opponents,  made  a  desperate  sta^  muler  the  city  walls ; 
and  while  Cleodalis,  with  the  anistaDce  of  Arthur  and  his 
oompanions,  was  gaining  some  slight  adyantages,  the  division 
oomnanded  by  the  king  in  persoBwasocnapletelyBiUTounded, 
and  the  xaowffch  hinuelf  borne  down  and  earned  off  by  the 
enemy.  Five  hundred  picked  knights  were  choaen  to  conduct 
him  to  the  camp  of  Ryance,  whilat  his  attendants,  though 
fighting  with  det^wration,  w«bq  snable  to  oSuA  his  reacne. 

His  doditer*  stode  on  &e  eitr  wall. 
And  beheld  this  miaaTentur^  all. 
Her  hondes  she  set  on  her  hair. 
And  her  fiur  tresses  aU  tu-tare.* 
£be  faet  to-tsre  to  her  amok, 
And  on  the  wal  her  hered'  gan  kaok, 
Aad  swooned  oft,  and  said,  '^  AUsb!  " 

But  Herlin,  aware  of  what  passed  in  ereiypart  rfthefidd, 
aaddenly  collected  his  knights,  led  them  oat  of  the  battle, 
intercepted  the  passage  of  tbe  five  hundred  who  had  oonyeyed 
away  Leodegan,  and,  charing  them  with  irresistible  impe- 
taoail7,SQon  cut  in  pieces  or  dispersed  the  «4iD]e  escort.  ^Rie 
■tndtee  of  Arthur,  Ban,  Bohort,  and  the  rest,  fell  "  like  haQ 
on  the  shingles;"  and  Herlin,  having  now  near  five  hundred 
vacant  horses,  and  as  many  suits  of  excellent  armour,  at  his 
disposal,  hastily  equipped  the  king,  and,  leaving  Cleodalis  to 
fight  as  well  as  he  could,  returned  at  fiill  spe^  to  the  city 
walls,  and  fell  "  like  a  northern  tempeet"  on  die  lear  of  the 
victorious  Saxons. 

The  knights  <tf  tbe  ronod  tsUe  were,  by  this  time,  almost 
all  unhorsed;  hut  the  veiy  welcome  sight  of  Merlin's  fieiy 
dragon,  and  the  joyful  shouts  froa  the  walls  whidi  hailed 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


MXBLUt,  rkKt  tl.  198 

tbe  imezpectetl  retam  of  their  cspHve  monarch,  msptred 
them  ifith  frech  ccmrage,  and  epresd  alarm  thrcmgh  the  raaks 
of  the  SusceoB.  The  terrible  "farty-ttoo"  oTercame,  like  a 
torrent,  all  oppoeitioii;  and  the  boldest  leaden  of  tlw  P&y- 
nims,  in  attempting  to  check  its  prosren,  meeeMiTely  met 
thear  destnution.  '  Cankng,  a  ginst  fifteen  feet  hig^,  eneoim- 
tered  Arthor:  and  the  fiiir  Ovenever,  ifho  already  begm  to 
feel  a  ilmitg  attftofament  to  the  handsome  Bbanger,  tremUed 
tat  the  issne  of  tiie  contest;  when  the  Britieh  momirch,  deal- 
ing a  dreadfhl  blow  on  the  ihonlder  of  the  monster,  divided 
him  to  the  aaTel  eo  accnrately,  that  the  two  aidee  hong  orer 
his  horse,  and  he  wan  thus  carried  about  the  field  to  the  great 
hmrcr  of  tbe  Saraceiu.  Gnenerer  oould  not  re^uin  frean 
eacpreflsing  alond  her  wish,  that  the  gentle  bachelor  who 
earred  giants  eo  dexteronsly  w»e  destined  to  become  her 
husband ;  and  the  wish  was  re-eehoed  by  her  attendants. 
King  Ban  dispatched  a  second  giant  in  a  nearly  similar  man- 
ner; and  Bohort  meeting  a  third,  who  was  staodard.bearer  to 
the  army,  cut  away  his  shoulder,  arm,  and  banner;  after 
which  the  enemy  began  to  fly  with  precipitation,  and  were 
closely  pursued  1^  Leod^an  and  hie  attendants. 

But  the  Saracens  had  still  in  the  field  two  lai^  annies; 
one  commanded  by  a  king  called  Saphiran,  who  was  of^xMed 
to  Cleodalis,  consieting  of  about  fourteen  thousand  men; 
and  a  second,  led  by  a  certain  King  Somegrex,  amountiiw 
to  eight  thousand,  including  the  fiigitivefl  who  had  rallied 
round  him,  Meriin  led  his  forty-two  against  the  latter,  and 
was  shortly  joined  by  the  two  hnndred  and  fiify  knights  o 
the  round  table,  who  had  no«  supplied  themselves  with  fresh 
horses;  bnt  ao  the  heathens  nude  a  stout  resistance,  he 
Erected  his  followers  to  turn  their  whole  edbrts  against  ten 
giaBt-fdiBmwons  on  whom  the  Seneens  plmed  their  {jrimtpal 
reliance.  These,  with  Bom^rex  at  their  head,  beu^  soon 
di^Mttched,  the  Christian  knights  qnicjcly  spread  deatruclicn 
ftrou^  the  rest,  and  drove  tibem  Hke  straw  before  tite  wind. 
Yet  even  this  victory  was  isefGcieDt,  heeanse  the  beaten  arn^ 
to^  reftige  with  that  of  Sa|duim,  who  by  dint  of  maiben 
had  already  driven  Cleodaiie  mider  the  waUs  of  the  ei^,  «nd 
began  to  anticipate  the  total  destruction  of  the  Christian  ferees. 

Merlin,  thouj^  aware  that  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  ordered 
his  knighte  to  alight  tot  a  f^  moments,  to  leUeve  their 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


124  EABLT   EK0LI8H  METBICA.L  BOUASCES. 

hinws,  and  then  led  them  to  this  fresh  contest.  Cleodalis, 
who  had  exhauated  all  the  art^  of  a  commander,  whs  almost 
in  deepair,  vhen  he  was  cheered  by  a  general  shout  from  the 
w'alla,  annonncing  the  rapid  approach  of  the  fire-caating 
dragon,  of  Leod^an,  and  <^  the  knights  of  the  round  table. 
The  firat  ehaige  of  the  forty-two  was,  as  usual,  irresistible; 
but  Saphiran,  who  far  surpasBed  all  the  Saracen  kings  in  skill 
and  Tolour,  summoning  round  him  his  best  kn^hts,  made  a 
desperate  attack  upon  these  new  assailants,  and  had  the 
honour  of  breaking  into  this  hitherto  untouched  phalanx,  and 
of  unhorsing  many  of  Arthur's  bravest  champions.  He  then 
again  returned,  broke  into  them  a  second  time,  bore  Leo- 
degan  to  the  ground,  slew  his  horse,  and  was  only  prevented 
from  killing  him  by  the  timely  interposition  of  Arthur,  who 
vented  his  rage  in  imprecations  of  vengeance  against  the 
infidel;  while  Merlin,  boiling  with  impatience,  exclaimed, 

"  What  abidest  thou  ?  coward  king ! 
The  paien'  give  anon  meeting  1" 

Arthur,  stung  with  this  unexpected  reproach,  fiew  to  meet 
Baphiron,  whose  spear  was  so  strong  and  well  directed  tiiat  it 

e'erced  his  shield  and  hauberk,  and  wounded  him  in  tho  side ; 
it  his  lance  at  the  same  time  passed  through  the  body  of 
Sophiren. 

Qoath  Arthur,  "  Thou  hethen  ookein,* 
Wende  to  the  devil  Apolinl" 
Hie  payen  fel  dede  to  ground; 
His  BDul  landht*  hell-hound! 

Ban,  who  on  this  occasion  had  first  trembled  for  the  days 
of  his  friend;  Bohort,  Eay,  and  the  other  worthies,  now 
exerted  thonselves  so  well  that  the  remaining  leaders  of  the 
Saracens  were  soon  dispatched;  and  the  victoij  was  so  com- 
plete, that  only  five  hundred  survivors  of  this  terrible  day 
were  able  to  reach  the  camp  of  Ryance. 

The  immense  booty  gained  from  the  heathens  was,  by  the 
king's  order,  presented  to  Arthur,  who  divided  the  whole 
amongst  the  Eubjects  of  Leodegan,  having  first  particularly 

*  Fifui;  beUben.  •RmcsI.  *  CMght. 

D,j,,..;uL,Coo^|i: 


KESUn,  PAST  II.  iiS 

enriclied  the  host  with  wliom  he  had  hitherto  lodged,  and 
whose  house  ho  now  left  for  apertmeuts  at  the  palace.  He 
was  disarmed,  and  conducted  to  the  bath  by  the  princess 
GiieneTer,  while  his  ftiends  were  attended  by  the  other  ladiea 
of  the  court  Amongst  these  was  a  second  Ouenever,  an 
iUegitimate  daughter  of  Leodegan,  and  so  nearly  resembling 
the  princess  that  it  was  ^fficult  to  distingniih  them.  Her 
mother,  a  lady  of  eiquisite  beauty  and  maid  of  honour  to  the 
queen,  had  been  married  to  Clcodalia,  but,  during  his  absence 
on  some  embassr,  had  resniued  her  Actions,  and  habitually 
slept  in  the  royal  apartment  The  queen,  a  woman  of  exem- 
l^uy  derotion,  constantly  rose  to  attend  matins;  and  the 
amorous  monarch  had  contrired  on  these  occasions  to  indem- 
nify himself  for  her  absence,  and  to  share  the  bed  of  her 
attendant;  whom,  after  the  birth  of  a  little  Ouenever,  he 
secreted  &om  her  husband,  and  whom  he  continued  to  reserve 
as  an  occasional  substitute  for  his  devout  consort,  without 
exciting,  as  it  should  seem,  any  violent  indignation  in  the 
tnmqn^  Cleodalig. 

The  knights  were  now  conducted  to  a  magnificent  enter- 
tainment, at  which  they  were  diligently  served  by  the  same 
fiir  attendants.  Leodegan,  more  and  more  imxious  to  know 
the  name  and  quality  of  his  generous  deliverers,  and  occa- 
•ionally  forming  a  secret  wish  that  the  chief  of  his  guests 
mi^t  be  captivated  by  Ae  charms  of  his  daughter,  appeared 
silent  and  pensive,  and  was  scarcely  roused  Ebom  bis  reverie 
by  the  banters  of  his  courtiers.  ArUrnr,  having  had  sufficient 
Opportunities  of  explaining  to  Ouenever,  with  that  obscurity 
and  circumlocution  which  a  growing  passion  always  inspires, 
his  great  esteem  for  her  merit,  was  m  the  joy  of  his  heart, 
and  was  still  more  delighted  on  learning  from  Merlin  the  late 
exploits  of  Sir  Oawain  in  Britain;  by  means  of  which  his 
immediate  return  to  his  dominions  was  rendered  annecesBary, 
and  he  was  left  at  liberty  to  follow  those  propensities  which 
led  him  to  protnet  his  stay  at  the  court  of  Leodegan.- 


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EASLY  EMOLIBK  HKXUOAI.  SOHAKOBS. 


Canto  VI. 

Liitenetii  now,  &le  and  few; 
la  Hay  the  sunne  felleth  dew; 
The  day  ia  miri,  and  dmweth  along; 
"&»  ladc  ireieth'  h^  King; 
To  moed'  g;ath  the  damisele. 
And  faiie  floweta  gadrelh  fi>Ie. 

The  poet  now  proceeds  to  describe  the  miseriefl  to  whiidi 
the  eonfedentte  kings  in  opposition  to  Arthur  irere  exposed 
by  the  Saracen  or  Saxon  invasion;  but,  unluckily,  his  geo- 
mphy  is  so  very  conftiaed,  that  it  is  impoaaible  to  undctetaod 
Uie  position  of  the  Tarious  battles  w)uc£  he  paints  with  great 
minuteness. 

Cradelman,  king  of  North  Wales,  was  first  alarmed  for  the 
safe^  of  his  dommions,  by  the  information  that  the  enemy 
had  landed  in  great  force  on  both  aides  of  Amndel,  a  city 
vrhicb,  accordinK  to  ihia  romance,  was  not  in  Sussex  but  in 
Cornwall.  Cradelman,  taking  with  him  ten  thousand  men, 
one-balf  of  which  he  confided  to  the  command  of  bis  etcwacd 
Folydamas,  attacked  the  pagans  dtiring  the  night,  completely 
smpriaed  them,  and  ma^  a  great  slaughter;  but  the  fugi- 
tives, having  escaped  to  the  neighbouring  territories  of  Car- 
mile,  brought  back  a  moat  powraM  reinforcement,  by  which 
Cradelman  was  in  his  torn  veiy  nearly  overpowered;  out  was 
jinally  rescued  from  destruction  by  a  well  directed  sally  of 
the  earrison  of  Arundel,  and  by  the  assistance  of  the  king  of 
the  hundred  knights,  who  had  accidentally  heard  the  newa  of 
the  invasion.  The  apoila  of  the  enemy's  camp  were  carried 
in  trimnph  into  Arundel. 

About  the  same  time, 

Ther  comen  up,  for  on  north. 

Ten  riche  eoudans  of  grete  wortbi 
and  these  aoudans,  oi  sultans,  whose  names  are  caretiiUy  enu- 
merated, directed  their  forces,  amounting  to  a  million  and  a 
half  of  men,  against  Anguisant,  king  of  Scotland.  Anguisant 
woe  then  in  his  city  of  Comasges,  and,  hearing  that  the 
■  BaiMi.  ■  Hrad,  or  meadow. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


HKBLIir,  FABT  II.  137 

whol*  |daia  coontiT  VM  oooi^ied  b^  tbe  infidels,  bastfljr 
levied  k  body  al  fifteen  dionniid  men,  and  riding  to  aa 
«BiiKBce,  b^^  tbe  eitenene  desolation  of  his  temtnies. 

His  ineiL  there  he  shift  a-two,i 

Uftlf  he  toke  himself,  and  mo, 

And  halvendel*  he  tok*  Gaudin, 

That  was  kuight  hardi  and  fin,* 

That  sithen,*  of  his  mighty  hand. 

Wen  that  maiden  of  the  douke  Branland. 

Hiis  litde  Bimy  peifonned  prodigies  of  valour,  but  were 
finally  ompowered  by  the  enormous  sopeiiority  of  numbers. 
LesTing  nine  thousand  of  his  fcrilowers  on  tbe  field,  An- 
gmsant  with  great  difficulty  led  bock  tbe  remaimiig  six  to  his 
nrtified  city;  nor  oonld  he  have  efibcted  this  retreat  bat  to 
the  timely  asaiBtanoe  of  Urien,  who,  accompanied  by  his 
nrahew  mldemagus,  fell  upon  the  rear  of  the  Saracens  with 
a  body  gf  twdre  thovsand  picked  soldiers. 

Hier  was  mm.  hered  c^  w&yed,* 
And  iBoo^  to  tbe  middle  clfived ;'' 
And  mam  of  his  horse  y-Inst;* 
For  sothe,  diere  roa  so  midiel  dust. 
That  <rf  the  sunne,  scbene  and  trngjit, 
No  man  mi^t  have  no  sight. 
Here  and  there  cri,  and  honl^!* 
Uen  might  hem  heren  thre  mde  way! 

The  approach  of  night  separated  Hie  combatants.  Urien, 
on  his  return,  unexpectedly  Ml  upon  a  Taloable  convoy  of  tbe 
enemy,  escorted  by  about  ei^t  thousand  men,  who  were  then 
unarmed  and  at  table.  He  charged  them,  cut  the  escort  to 
pieces  without  opposition,  oud  carried  off  the  convoy. 

While  this  was  passing  in  the  north,  Sagremor,  who  had 
embaiked  at  Constantiaople  tor  the  purpose  of  receiving  the 
mder  of  knighthood  i^om  King  Arthur,  arrived  in  Sussex  with 
saren  hundred  noble  companions  who  were  ambitions  of  the 
same  honour.     They  found  the  whole  country  overrun  by  ft 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


128  ZIBLT  EMOLISH  KETSIC&K'  BOHAK0E8. 

Sancen  army  nnder  the  commAnd  of  King  Oriou ;  Imi, 
h&ving  collected  about  five  hundred  adTenturers  whom  they 
blended  with  their  little  troop,  determined,  with  more  boldnees 
than  wisdom,  to  cut  their  way  through  these  infidels.  They  had 
scarcely  formed  this  resolution,  when  an  old  churl,  accostijig 
Gawain,  who  was  still  in  London,  informed  him  that  Sagre- 
mor  was  on  the  point  of  being  surrounded  and  killed ;  ut«ed 
him  to  hasten,  with  such  forces  as  he  could  raise,  to  nis 
assistance;  and  promised  to  conduct  h'-f  fay  a  Tcry  short 
route  to  tlie  place  of  combat.     To  confirm  his  intelligence,  he 

£  resented  some  letters  apparently  written  by  Sagremor;  and 
lawain  was  almost  immediately  ready  lo  deport  at  the  head 
of  fiileen  thousand  citizens,  who  were  joined  on  the  march  by 
numbers  of  voluntcera,  whilst  the  old  churl  conducted  them 
without  the  least  interruption,  throu^  roads  unknown  to  the 
enemy,  till  they  reached  the  field  of  battle. 

Sagi'emor  and  his  companions  had  successfully  cut  their 
way  through  some  twenty  thousands  of  miscreants,  but  at  last 
found  themsetfes,  by  repeated  exertions  of  almost  miraculous 
valoiur,  hemmed  in  on  all  sides  by  the  innumerable  host  of 
their  assailants.  They  were  then  reduced  to  despair,  and 
almost  on  the  point  of  throwing  down  their  arms,  wnen  their 
spirits  were  restored  I^  the  unexpected  appeanmce  of  Gawain 
and  his  brethren,  who  joined  them  at  the  first  charge,  after 
killing  or  oversetting  sixteen  thousand  infidals.     Then 

Mani  mouthe  the  gras  hot,' 
And  grisclich  yened,*  God  it  wot! 
Payens  floated  in  her  blod ! 
Ever  is  Christis  mighte  good. 

Gawain,  baring  luckily  encountered  Ring  Oriens,  gave  him 
a  blow  on  his  helmet  which  threw  him  to  the  ground  in  a 
swoon,  and  was  preparing  to  pursue  his  victory;  when  an 
unknown  knight,  suddenly  accosting  him  in  an  imperious 
tone,  ordered  nim  to  sound  a  retreat,  and  to  lead  his  army  to 
Camnlot.  Gawain  obeyed,  and  had  conducted  his  troops 
about  a  mile ;  when  Oriens,  recovering  irom  his  trance,  called 
for  a  fresh  horse  and  a  new  suit  of  armour,  and  galloped  at 
the  head  of  sixty  thousand  cavaliers  to  intercept  the  Chlis- 

'  Bit  the  gnn,  i.e.  died.  ■  Yiwnvl  frightfiill;. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


HEBLIK,  PAST   II.  129 

tiana.  The  result  however  was,  that  he  was  thrown  into  a 
second  swoon  by  a  blow  from  the  sword  of  Gawain;  and 
though  the  hardness  of  his  skiill  and  helmet  resisted  this 
repetition  of  the  experiment,  a  considerable  number  of  his 
b^  cenernls  were  slain  around  him  hv  Gaheriet,  Agravain, 
Galachin.  Oitehcrcs  and  Sagremor;  and  the  Christians  made 
good  tlieir  retreat  within  the  walls  of  Camalot,  where  the 
orriTnl  of  Sngremor  was  celebrated  by  all  kinds  of  rejoicing. 
Oriens,  whose  bruises  did  not  tend  to  soften  the  ferocity  of 
his  temper,  finding  that  it  was  hopeless  to  attempt  the  siege 
of  Camalot,  led  his  army  into  the  territory  of  Caubenuc, 
belcmging  to  Estas,  duke  of  Arundel,  spoiled  the  whole 
country,  and  carried  his  ravages  into  the  adjoining  states 
belon^ng  to  King  Clarion.  Estas  repaired  to  this  monarch 
for  the  purpose  of  consulting  him  on  the  means  of  resisting, 
at  at  least  of  harassing,  their  inexorable  enemy;  and  a^r  a 
bng  discussion,  which  it  is  not  worth  while  to  repeat,  they 
agreed  to  take  post,  with  as  many  troops  as  they  could  levy, 
in  the  great  forest  of  Rockingham,  and  there  to  watch  an 
opportunity  of  taking  tbeir  revenge  on  the  Saracens. 

Cakto  VII. 

In  May  is  miri  time  swithe; 
Foules  in  wode  hem  maken  blithe ; 
In  eve^  lond  arist*  song; 
Jesus  Christ  be  ous  among! 
The  business  of  this  short  canto  is  not  veir  interesting. 
Hie  combined  troops  of  Duke  Estas  and  of  King  Clarion, 
havins  chosen  a  station  in  the  forest  where  seven  roads  met, 
soon  diBCovered  a  convoy — 

FnB  of  ich  moner  prey ; 

Of  veuiwun,  and  flesdi,  and  biede. 

Of  brown  ale,  and  win  white  and  rade, 

Of  baudekins,  and  purple  pall. 

Of  gold  and  silver,  and  cendal  ■} 

I  AriM*. 
*  BanOis  wu  a  rlii  and  pradoiii  kind  of  doth,  oompoKd  of  iSk  tnd 
gold  Uimd.     Candal  vm  ilu  a  kind  of  rich  thin  allkai  italT,  mjlilfb^ 
ritwmil — Bee  UaDiwdl'i  Dictionsij  of  Ardiaiamf ,  im  voet. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


130  ejlbix  zmetiaB  mkikicu. 

and  suddenly  attaddng  flie  escort  of  fire  Uvnuand  honanes, 
put  them  all  to  the  sword,  and  seized  the  convoy,  ^riiieh  &ej 
lodged  in  safety  within  the  walls  of  Arundel.  In  retnnnnc 
from  this  capture  they  had  an  encounter  with  fifteen  thonsud 
Sttmxaa,  whom  they  also  attacked  and  dispersed,  after  killing 
two  or  three  giants  who  commanded  them :  but  foreseeing  that 
the  enemy  would  be  constantly  strengthened  by  fresh  rdn- 
fbrcements,  they  prudently  secured  their  means  of  retreat  into 
the  forest  Oiiens,  on  hearing  of  their  success,  became,  as 
uanal,  veiy  ferocions. 

"Ah  Mahoun!"!  said  Oriens,  "tbo 
Thou  nart*  a  god  worth  a  sloe! 
Uterefore  the  folk  thou  doet  no  gode. 
So  for  Christen  doth  her  Gode!" 

He  then  ordered  for^  thousand  men  to  surroniMl  and 
destroy  these  insolent  Cbristians;  but  they  had  already  taken 
their  measures,  and  under  corerof  the  forest  and  of  the  night, 
retired  with  litde  loss  to  their  seTeial  fiutnesees. 


Ckjrro  VIU. 

Mirie  it  is  in  soiBer*H  tide; 

Foules  nng  in  fiweat  wide; 

Swaines  sin  on  justing  ride ; 

Maidens  ufen  hem  in  pride. 

We  haTc  seen,  that  though  Arthur  had  earned  vith  him, 

to  the  assistance  of  Leodegan,  ^te  flower  of  British  chifalry. 

a  new  race  of  heroes  had  since  started  up  for  die  defence  of 

the  country.     Oawtun,  his  cousin  Oalachin,  and  his  three 

brothers,  together  with  Sasrennr,  already  taxied  with  the 

most  experienced  conunandera;  and  a  new  champion,  the 

celelHttted  Ywain,  was  mor  added  to  tin  nnnber.     It  wiU  be 

remembered  that  Uiien 

Hadde  spoused  Hermesent, 
Blasine  sister  and  Baliaent. 
Una  had  a  yaong  man  hem  bitwen. 


J  L,  Google 


KKOLIIT,  PAST  II.  131 

Hidiel  Ymin,  »  noble  atren.' 

He  Was  ycleped'  micheJ  Ywai'n, 

For  he  t^dde  a  brother  knight,  certain, 

Bast  Ywaia  he  was  j^te. 

For  he  was  bigeten  a  bast,*  God  it  woto. 

ITrien,  br  another  quen, 

Tet  hadde  higeten  a  gentil  stren, 

lliat  was  hotea  Morganor; 

A  gode  klught  by  Oodia  ore.* 

He  bailde  made  "I'l"  in  al  heir 

To  the  load  that  of  him  com,  tqt.' 

The  lond  that  com  of  Hennesent 

Was  Ywain'a,  lliurgh  right  descent 

Uickle  Ywain  made  the  same  request  to  Hcrmesent  wUclt 
Oalachin  and  Gawain  had  addressed  to  Blasiiie  and  Beliseat, 
and  was,  like  them,  strongly  encooraged  to  forwatd  a  recoD- 
ciliatiaii  between  Arthur  and  his  bther  Urien.  Hennesent 
proTided  for  him  a  hundred  knights,  and  three  hundred  young 
bachelors,  candidates,  like  himself  for  the  order  of  knight- 
hood, with  a  projier  supply  of  bones  and  armour;  and  Ywain, 
haTing  received  the  maternal  beuedielio*,  deputed  with  hiB 
bostanl  brother,  and  began  his  mardi  "all  by  the  forest  of 
Sedingham,  toward  Amndel,  m  Ccnurall." 

His  road  lay  through  the  territories  of  King  Yder;  but  they 
were  at  that  time  ovenun  by  inBOMienble  swaims  of  Sara- 
cens; and  their  ravages  were  so  exteanvc  that  the  report  of 
them  reached  Ibe  ears  of  Gnwain,  irtio  immediately  marched 
to  the  rescue  of  Yder  at  the  head  (tf  titir^  thousand  men; 
and.  passing  from  London  tbroagb  Cacduel,  arrived  at  Bed- 
inghaio  about  the  time  wh«i  Ywain  quitted  it  on  bis  way  to 
Arondd.  Yder  himself  at  the  same  moment  resolved  on 
bring  the  late  of  a  battle  wi^  the  enemy ;  and,  putting  him- 
s^  at  the  head  of  fifteen  thousand  men,  was  eccidraitaUy 
encountered  by  the  rear  guard  of  the  great  Saracen  army. 
Yder,  though  he  perceired  the  superior  numbers  of  the 
heathen  forces,  attacked  them  without  hesitation,  broke  them, 
and  was  making  a  dreadful  carnage  ctf  the  unbeltevers, — when 
he  was  anddemy  attacked  by  anodter  division  of  their  %rmy, 

*  FRVenr.        ■  CilM.        *  A  bsArcL         *  Gnce.        '  1^.   ;• 


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EASLT  ZtraLIBH   VETSIC&L 


to  an  unexpected  diverBioii  produced  by  Ywain,  who  iatuing 
bom  the  forest,  and  seeing  the  whole  open  country  oovered 
with  enemies,  instantly  &ttacked  the  firat  who  came  in  his 
way, 

Ywcun  nnd  his  bastard  brother  were  accompanied  by  a 
kn^ht  of  great  courage  and  espcrieace  named  Ates,  who 
quickly  discovered,  that,  having  passed  s  brid§;e,  the  only  one 
which  was  to  be  fonnd  between  Arundel  and  the  forest  which 
they  had  left,  and  thig  bridge  having  been  immediately  occu- 
pied  by  the  Saracens,  they  had  no  longer  any  possibility  of 
retreat.  But  the  young  bachelors  made  no  reflections.  By  a 
desperate  charge  diese  four  hundred  destroyed  five  thousand 
infidels;  and,  finding  themselves  still  "whole  and  sound," 
began  to  anticipate  a  splendid  and  complete  victory. 

At  this  time  a  litlie  knai-e  (i.  e.  boy)  delivered  to  Gawtun  a 
letter,  which  he  profossed  to  bring  from  Ywain ;  and  he, 
having  perused  it,  iromediately  called  to  arms,  and,  dividing 
a  part  of  his  troops  into  five  bodies  of  three  thousand  each, 
gave  the  command  of  them  to  Sagremor,  Galachin,  nnd  his 
three  brothers,  taking  to  himself  the  conduct  of  the  rear 
guard,  consisting  of  eight  tiunisand. 

The  knave  tanght  her  way  sikerlicli, 

Thai  ridcn  wel  senelich ;' 

Ther  gilt  pensel,'  with  the  wind 

Mirie  railed,  of  cendal  ynde.* 

The  stedes,  bo  noble  and  so  wight,' 

Lopen*  and  neighed  with  the  knight 

These  beth  alle  so  fiist  coming ; 

The  children,  that  whiles,  wer  fighting,  &c. 

But  to  fight  against  such  superiority  of  numbers  as  then 
assailed  them  was  nearly  hopeless,  because  they  were  gradually 
encompassed  and  atta<Jted  in  every  direction.  Ywain  now 
felt  the  consequences  of  the  mistake  which  the  more  prudent 
Ates  had  discovered  long  before ;  and,  in  the  hope  of  reme- 
dying it,  proposed  that  titej  should  unite  all  their  eSbrte  in 
one  aiiection;  make  a  violent  charge  towards  the  river;  and, 
if  it  'd^ould  prove  fordable,  retreat  through  it  into  the  forest, 

*  Ctoidjr.        '  Bmnir.        *  IndiiD.        *  Stronc-        *  Lo^ 

D,j„._L,  Cookie 


UEBLIK,  FAST  II,  133 

Bot  &ey  were  duappointed.  Tbs  higli  Ixulis  of  the  river 
prerented  all  hope  of  escape,  and  beyond  it  they  discovered 
ne«h  Bwaims  of  the  enemy  hastening  towaida  the  bridge.  At 
diis  moment  of  desperation  they  beheld  Agravain,  who  led 
the  van  of  Qawain'e  forcea,  advanciDg  rapidly  to  their  awiat- 
ance.  They  now  again  turned  Iheir  horses,  and,  making  a 
second  effort,  cut  thJeir  way  through  the  infidels,  and  joined 
their  friends.  The  battle,  being  constantly  supplied  with 
fresh  combatants  by  the  successive  auccoura  of  Oucberet, 
Gaheriet,  Oalscbin,  Sagremor,  and  Gawain,  who  were  opposed 
by  new  reinforcements  which  anived  in  the  heathen  army, 
was  continued  with  great  obstinacy;  and  our  poet,  who  is 
never  tired  of  descnbing  such  scenes,  has  painted  every 
circomBtance  of  the  comlnt  with  the  minnteness  of  an  eye- 
witness, and  with  a  degree  of  delist  and  satisfiiction  in 
which  the  modem  reader  would  not  easily  participate.  Suffice 
it  to  say,  that,  the  sun  approaching  the  meridian,  Gawain'a 
strength  became  double;  and  that  of  Ywain  and  the  other 
Christian  heroes  being  little  diminished,  they  made  as  exten- 
sive a  carnage  amongst  the  infidels  as  the  worst  enemy  of 
paganism  could  conscientiously  wish  to  contemplate,  and  theu 
marched  in  triumph  and  loaded  with  spoil  to  their  former 
qnarters  at  Bcdingham. 

Here  Gawain  was  much  simmsed  to  learn  that  the  letters 
"written  in  Latin,"  which  had  brought  biin  so  opportunely 
to  the  assistance  of  Ywain.  were  counteHeits.  The  reader  is 
probably  aware  that  tho  "little  knave"  who  brought  these 
letters,  the  "  old  churl"  who  had  announced  the  danger  of 
Sagremor,  and  the  unknown  kni^t  who  advised  the  timely 
retreat  into  Arundel,  were  the  same  person ;  and  that  Merlin, 
ander  these  and  similiir  disguises,  superintended  all  the  enter- 
prises of  the  British  heroes  during  the  absence  of  Arthur. 
After  refreshing  themselves  during  a  few  days  at  Bcdingham, 
th^  were  again  summoned  in  great  haste  to  Arundel. 

Kaydestran  and  KehedLn,  two  noble  young  bachelors,  with 
twenty-seven  companions,  arriving  within  sight  of  the  walls, 
fell  in  with  a  party  of  the  enemy,  whom  they  instantly  over- 
threw; but,  being  at  length  surrounded  by  greater  nombeiB, 
and  in  imminent  danger  oi  being  captured,  were  rescued  by  a 
sally  of  three  hundred  youn^  men  from  die  garnaon  of  the 
d.tj.     The  leaders  of  titis  little  band  were  Ywain  with  the 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


134  EABLY  ESSLISH  MZXBIOAL  SOHAJTCBB. 


dilute  hand,  Tmin  of  Lyonee,  Ymin  de  Ik  vis  le  bd,  YwtiB 
of  Strangore,  BndDeriddtbesovi^;  all  budidorB  of  approrndt 
coorage,  and  all  related  to  like  &mily  of  Oawain.  Bat  before 
they  could  make  good  their  rebeat  the  idtole  were  envalaped. 
At  this  instant  Oawain  arrived,  and  of  conrae  TaDquisbed  the 
iofideUi,  rescued  the  Oiriatian  warriors,  and  was  prepartng  ta 
pumie  the  enemy,  when  Heriin,  in  the  shape  of  an  old  kni^it, 
ordered  him  to  enter  Arundel  with  his  young  kinsmen,  and 
tibcre  to  wait  for  fiirther  ingtraddoDa. 

Hie  infidds  finding  ttiat  the  Brittms  oonld  not  be  attacked 
with  advantage  in  tut  part  of  the  country,  suddenly  united 
dtheir  forces,  and,  marching  northwards,  poured  into  Lothian, 
the  territory  of  King  Lot.  That  monarch,  advancinK  against 
them  with  twenty  tbooaand  men,  gained  a  great  ana  Uoody 
victory;  but,  having  pursued  his  advantage  too  for,  was 
totally  defeated  in  hu  turn  by  a  fireeh  army,  and  forced  to 
take  refiige,  with  onhr  three  thousand  of  his  followers,  in  the 
city  of  Dorkeine.  bi  this  extremity  he  resolved,  by  the 
advice  of  his  oouucil,  to  make  his  way  to  the  strong  citadel  of 
Qlocedoine ;  to  depowt  there  his  wife  Belisent  and  hie  inbnt 
BOS  Modred,  and  to  wait  a  more  favourable  c^portunity  of 
leoovering  his  dominions. 

Oawain  was  perfectly  unconscious  of  the  deplonble  aitn»- 
ticm  of  his  bther,  and  was  carelessly  leaning  wiUi  bis  com- 
panions  on  the  walls  of  Arundel,  when  a  strange  knight, 
accoutred  at  all  points,  called  to  him  precipitatefy  to  arm, 
md  ofi^red  to  aonduct  him  to  a  scene  where  his  assistance 
was  wanted  at  that  moment.  Neither  Oawain  nor  any  of  his 
oompanions  knew  Merlin  in  this  di^uise;  but,  having  exacted 
ftiaa  him  an  oath  that  his  tale  was  strictly  true,  they  hastily 
collected  their  forces,  put  themselves  under  his  guidance,  and 
galloped  off  in  search  of  this  unknown  adventure. 

In  passing  through  a  forest  they  met  a  knig^  comiiw 
toward  them  at  flill  speed,  and  hewing  in  his  arms  a  child, 
^om  Gawain  at  once  recognized  as  his  brother  Modred. 
Ihe  knight  informed  them  l£at  Lot,  having  been  surprised 
during  his  march,  was  severely  wounded,  and  perhaps  killed 
or  taken;  that  Belisent  was  in  the  hands  of  the  enemv  at  a 
very  small  distance ;  and  thai  he,  having  with  dimonlty 
teaoned  the  inbnt,  was  attempting  to  bear  him  to  some  place 
of  safety.     Oawain  ordered  ue  knight  to  follow  his  troops. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


KBZI.IK,  PAST  U.  136 

aai,  kaeping  thorn  etmcealed  in  tbe  forest,  cantioiidy  pro- 
ceeded towanh  tbe  field  of  battle ;  wbere  he  aotax  diaoovered 
tba  infidel  kin^,  named  Tuuus,  who,  faATing  Beised  a  lady  1^ 
tke  tvevee  of  her  hair,  was  endaaTonring  tfaui  to  draw  ha  up 
and  to  fix  her  on  his  Imve.  Thisvaa  BeLbent  Her  piteoaa 
cries  for  mercy  reached  the  ean  aod  thrilled  the  heart  of 
Chtvain,  but,  b^ng  mixed  wi&  inTocatJoiu  of  the  ludy  Vugin, 
drew  down  repeated  boifeta  fimn  the  firt  of  the  mffian  who 
beld  her.  She  fell  from  the  horse's  back;  but  Tnunu  atill 
aoatained  her  by  the  hair,  soovrged  her,  and  bade  ber  follow 
aa  foot;  and  whon  from*weakneai  die  entaneled  her  feet  in 
her  long  robes,  and  fell  to  the  ground,  he  miunounted,  tied 
her  tieeeea  to  his  horse's  tail,  and  Urns  prepared  to  ride  off 
'Witfa  bis  manned  yictim.  But  an  attendant,  seeing  the 
rapid  approach  of  Gawain,  mddealy  cut  the  lady's  h«ir,  utd 
diataBwed  hU  master  from  this  eniiumlffance. 

Wawain  with  epon  his  stede  smot, 
And  he  forth  eterte,'  Ood  it  wot. 
He  gred'  aloud  to  King  Tatuous, 
"Atode!  thou  thief  mslicions! 
Biche-son!  thou  drawest  amisa! 
Titou  ahalt  abeye  it  ywise!"* 

Aaooirdingly,  thoi^  Tanms  was  of  the  same  gigantic 
dtBCoaioiw  with  the  rest  of  the  infidel  c^efi,  Oawain  passed 
boa  new  through  his  ahidd,  hanberk  and  heart,  and  threw 
him  dead  amongst  his  troops,  who  were  speedily  exterminated 
to  a  man.  Beliseut,  who  had  &llen  into  a  swoon,  was  not 
a  little  eurpriaed,  on  first  opening  her  eyes,  to  find  herself 
attended  by  her  four  sons;  and  her  wonder  and  joy  were 
complete,  when,  having  expressed  her  fears  tar  the  in&nt 
Ho^ed,  the  child  was  restored  to  her  in  health  and  safety. 
She  then  related  that  Lot,  with  only  three  hundred  knights, 
had  been  attacked  by  many  thousands  of  the  enemy;  that 
after  a  long  and  desperate  resistance,  he  hod  seen  her  torn 
from  him  by  the  miscreant  Taurus ;  and  had  only  consulted 
hia  own  aafety  by  flight,  when,  his  attendants  being  nearly  all 
ioBei,  and  himMlF  wounded  in  fifteen  places,  be  could  no 
longer  hope  to  render  her  any  asaietance. 

I  Started.  >  ChmL  «  Cectdnlr  equate  it. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


1S6  EASLT   EMDLIiH  XETKICAL.  BOMUtCES. 


Bcliacnt  was  now  placed  on  a  litter ;  aud,  being  mpplied 
with  all  poBgible  conveniences  from  ihe  Buiuptcr  carts  of 
Taunu,  BIX  himdred  in  number,  which  attended  her  march, 
was  conveyed  by  easy  journeys  to  London,  where  she  was 
received  by  the  gallant  Sir  Do,  and  lodged  witli  prc^r  mag-- 
nificence  in  the  royal  palace. 

All  these  events,  it  is  to  be  observed,  were  dictated  by 
Merlin  himself  to  hie  old  master  Blaise, — so  that  their  vtracity 
is  unquestionable;  and  we  must  now  follow  Merlin  to  the 
court  of  Leod^tm,  where  he  related  them  to  Arthur  and  his 
companions.  He  then  condescended  to  inform  the  king,  that 
the  motive  of  their  visit  to  hie  court  had  been  to  procure  a 
suitable  wife  for  their  gallant  leader;  upon  which  Leodegas, 
going  in  search  of  Guenever,  presented  her  to  Arthur,  telling 
Eim  that,  whatever  might  be  his  rank,  his  merit  was  sufficient 
to  entitle  him  to  the  possession  of  the  heiress  of  Carmelide. 
Arthur  having  accepted  the  lady  with  the  utmost  gratitude, 
Merhn  then  proceeded  to  satisfy  the  king  respectine  the  rank 
of  his  son-in-law;  upon  which  Leodegan,  with  the  knights  of 
the  round  table  and  his  other  barons,  proceeded  to  do  homage 
to  their  legitimate  suzenuu,  the  successor  of  Uther  Pendisgon. 
The  beauteous  Guenever  was  then  solemnly  betrothed  to 
Arthur ;  and  a  magnificent  festival  was  procUimed,  which 
lusted  seven  days,  and  would  have  been  protracted  much 
loiter,  but  that,  freeh  Guecours  having  arrived  in  the  camp  of 
Rj-nncc,  it  became  necessary  to  prepare  for  military  opent- 


Cakto  rx. 

Mirie  i>  June  that  sdieweth  Sower 
The  mcden  ben'  of  swete  odour; 
Lily  and  rose  of  swete  cohntr; 
The  river  clear  withoutcn  sour*; 
,  This  damiseles  lore  paramour. 

The  whole  <rf  this  canto,  though  it  extends  to  no  Imb  than 
eleven  hundred  verses,  is  dedicated  to  the  description  of  a 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


XEKLIlf,  Pi.BX  IT.  137 

single  battle,  vhich  ended  in  the  final  discomfiture  of  Kin;^ 
Ryance,  and  thereby  left:  Arthur  at  liberty  to  accomplish  dii: 
great  adTentnres  to  which  he  ttos  destined.  The  troops  of 
jLeod^an  were  marahalled  by  the  particular  advice  of  Merlin : 
but  we  cannot  digcover  any  advantages  which  resulted  fitnn 
the  scientific  distribution  recommended  by  the  magician;  the 
ultimate  success  being  solely  owing  to  the  efibrta  uf  individiitJ 

It  was  a  Monday,  festival  of  Pentecost,  &a.t  had  been  prc- 
yiooAy  choeen  for  this  great  contest.  The  Christian  knights 
ro«e  at  daybreak,  and  arrayed  themselves  in  their  most  sninp- 
tuouB  snits  of  armour,  which  were  ornamented  with  gold, 
nlrer,  and  jewels.  Arthur,  always  eager  for  battle,  was  now 
doubly  so,  because  he  was  to  be  armed  by  the  hands  of  the 
beauteous  Quenever;  but,  as  the  pieces  which  composed  this 
iron  dress  were  very  nmnerons,  and  as  the  lady,  on  lacing  on 
cadi,  was  required  to  pay  a  loss  as  the  fbrfeit  of  her  awk- 
wardness, or  to  receive  one  as  the  reward  of  hor  dexteritj-, 
the  lei^th  of  the  ceremony  excited  the  impatience  of  Merlin, 
who  sternly  enjoined  the  young  warrior  to  remember  these 
kissed  in  the  hour  oi  distress  and  difficulty. 

The  main  body  of  the  army  was  divided  by  Merlin  into 
seven  parts  of  seven  thousand  men  each.  Of  the  first  be  took 
the  personal  direction,  and  in  this  body  were  comprehended 
the  formidable /or^-fiDo,  and  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  knights 
of  the  round  table :  the  number  being  completed  by  a  selection 
from  the  In^vest  of  Leodegan'a  vasaals.  The  commanders  of 
the  other  six  divisions  were  Oogenor,  Lcodegan's  nephew; 
Elmodas;  Belich  le  blond;  Yder  of  north-land;  Kondon, 
nephew  of  Cleodahs;  and  Oempore  mole;  and  besides  these, 
a  small  but  choice  army  of  reserve,  consisting  of  ten  thousand 
men,  was  led  by  Leodegan  in  person,  assisted  by  his  good 
steward  Cleodalis. 

Merlin  harangued  the  army,  and  promised  them  final  success, 
notwithstajiding  the  almost  innumerable  forces  of  the  enemy, 
whom  he  proposed  to  surprise  in  their  camp.  This  camp,  it 
seems,  was  fortified  on  thn»;  sides;  on  the  south  by  a  rampart 
of  wagons  and  carts,  and  on  the  west  and  cast  by  a  wall: 

.  >  Od«  of  theNartheniGlirDiiicleTT  telliBithBt  tbe  "BnumoKiitDf  kin. 
Ii^'  wu  not  known  to  the  udeat  Briton*,  but  thW  it  wu  JDtnMlaeeil 
into  ^ij  conntrj  bj  >  lUiofhler  oF  Henciit! 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


138  KABIT  Eirai^BH  KETBICU^  SOICAMCSS. 

**  trnt,"  etH  Uesliii,  "  w«  ihall  attack  tbem  on  die  eaatem 
fide, 

"  And  find  them  sleepand,  and  de  domai^A, 
For  thai  wer  all  draaken  totught." 

He  then  detached  ten  kniglita,  with  orden  to  destroy  all 
tibe  acoute  who  might  give  infoimation  of  hii  approach;  and, 
having  unfurled  hu  hanner  surmonnted  by  the  fiery  dragon, 
advanced  in  silence  to  the  camp,  irtiich  he  entered  unper- 
cetT«d. 

His  firgt  operation  was  to  cast  a  spell  into  the  air,  bj  virtne 
ot  which  great  numbers  of  the  tents  &II  down  on  the  heads  ot 
tiie  sleefMng  infidels;  and  it  may  be  presumed,  that  those  who 
irere  very  drunken  were  irrecoverably  stifled.  Those  who 
were  more  watchful  or  alert  were  punished  for  their  lobrie^ 
b^  bdng  tnmjrfed  in  their  shirts  under  the  hcttscs'  feet,  or 
pierced  by  the  lances  of  the  assailants.  Several  thousands 
were  iLns  slao^tered  before  a  man  in  the  camp  had  time  to 
pvt  oa  his  armour.  But  at  length  «  few  knights  appeared 
roond  the  tent  of  King  Ryauce ;  lliese  were  followed  hy  more ; 
and.  their  numbers  continually  increasing,  they  were  enabled 
to  fiwe  the  Christians,  and  b^an  "  one  of  the  greatest  battles 
that  ever  was  smitten." 

Passed  was  fbe  day-a 
The  hot  sunne  was  so 
Tbo  began  knigfates  riding, 
Trumpes  beting,  tambours  dasaing;< 
Ther  was  fleing  and  withstanding, 
Tiiii^,  togging,'  and  overthrowing! 
Among  ^  knights  who  distinguished  themselves  in  this 
terrible  Oay  was  one  whom  the  author  is  particularly  desiroas 
to  recomnwnd  to  the  grated  remembrance  of  his  bearers. 
Tikis  was  Nacien,  a  knight  of  great  prowess  and  merit,  and 
■Hied  to  many  of  the  most  renowned  heroes  of  chivalry.     His 
mother  was  Hanugncs,  sister  to  Joseph,  a  kaiyhl  of  grace, 
dtrongfa  whom  he  was  cousin  to  the  noble  Perceval.     His 
tUher  was  Elbron,  who  had  sixteen  more  eons,  all  kni^ta  of 
0eat  virtue;  and  through  bim  Nacien  was  cousin  to  Celidoine 
m  rich,  SOB  of  Nacien  of  fietica,  which  Odidoine  first  saw  nil 

■  Batf^.  ■  IWfng;  ton^. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


zx  II.  1S« 

^le  memul  of  the  Sou  OrimL     Nuaea  wu  tiaa  nU*  (i  «. 
related)  to  Eii^  PeUe*  of  Listoneia, 

And  nth  then  badde  lAoncelot 

In  hia  tnwd  aboost  a  ya. 

So  M«  JZewiotou  uyd  «&t  ic£«re.-i 

Tliia  NacieoB,  of  whom  7  write, 

Sith  then  Incom  eremite*; 

And  lette  kni^tadiippe  and  al  diiog. 

And  bicome  preate.  messe  to  aing. 

Virgin  of  hia  bodi  he  waa. 

Whom  dth  then  the  htdi  Godea  gncc 

Bavist  into  the  thiiddc  heren, 

Wliere  he  berde  angels'  itevcn*; 

And  aeighe  Fader,  Son,  and  Holi  Ghost, 

In  on  aub«taunce,  in  on  acost 

^[hia  gave  aith  then  tbe  riche  crataeal 

To  the  King  Arthonr,  nonbilo, 

^flw  be  waa  in  gret  peril 

To  leae  his  londea,  and  ben  cxil, 

Oninea  the  kii^  Oalahoa, 

Tm  geamitet  aone,  of  gret  loa,* 

Tbxt  gaf  King  Arthoiu  batailing.  See. 

Nacien  waa  accompanied  by  Adregiun  the  Brown;  andtheie 
two  bad  the  honour  of  accompanying  Arthur  in  a  decperate 
■ttadi  on  the  standard  of  King  Ryance,  which  represented 
tborekiihantB  with  their  caatles.  About  this  time  the  conflict 
became  general  all  over  the  field;  and  the  authoi  has  ex- 
^ffi^°^  bis  powen  of  description  in  jminring  the  honon  of 
tbe  scene. 

Al  BO  thick  the  arwe  scboten,* 

In  annne-beam  eo  doth  the  molon. 

Oavelokes*  al  so  thick  flowe 

So  gnattea.  icbil  abowe.^ 


Tber  waa  so  micbel  dost  li 


"?•. 


^niat  Bene  there  nas  aunne  echining. 
Ibe  tnuapii^  and  the  tabouring 

'  AS  OnM  luAu  luitiuu,  u  wdl  u  tb*t  wluch  ii  illnded  to  in  dw  n1 
qaent  PMuge,  ii  dmt  ImL 
«  l.b«niiit.  »  Ttnce;  loiig.  *  GUtr) 

'  Arnm  that        ■  JaroUni.        '  I  will  itpw  or  — '"**" 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


140  ElKLT  XHQLIBH  ICSTBIOU. 

Did  togeder  the  ki%hts  fling. 

The  knights  broken  her  eperen  . , 

On  thre',  thai  amiten  and  to-teren.'  ' 

Knightee  and  stfides  tlier  laien  about. 

The  bevedee  off  smitten,  the  guttee  oat. 

Hereden,*  and  fete,  and  annea,  there 

Lay  strewed  everich  vrhere 

Under  stedes'  fete,  bo  thick 

In  Crowe's  nest  bo  doth  the  stick. 

Sum  sterven,'  and  sum  gras  gnowe  f* 

The  gode  steden  her  guttes  dreire. 

With  blodi  sadels  iu  that  pres. 

Of  swich  bataile  was  no  ses,* 

To  the  night  fram  amorwe,' 

It  was  a  hataile  of  gret  sorowe ! 

The  main  body  of  the  ChriatiBn  army,  being  overpowered 
by  superior  numbers,  were  at  length  driTeain  confiisiou  under 
the  walls  of  Denebleise ;  but  again  rallying,  drove  back  their 
pursuciB,  and  gave  time  to  the  knights  of  Arthur's  company 
to  refreah  themselves,  and  to  relievo  thrir  horees,  who  were 
incapable  of  carrying,  during  many  hours,  the  enormous  weight 
of  iron  which  covered  their  riders.  Merlin  then,  having  at 
leisure  taken  his  survey  of  the  field,  ordered  his  company  to 
mount,  and  led  them  at  fidl  speed  to  the  part  of  the  battle 
i^ere  he  discovered  the  "crowns  and  beards,"  which  were 
painted  on  the  shield  of  King  Ryanco. 

Arthur,  glad  of  encoimtering  the  Irish  monarch,  made  a 
violent  blow  at  him,  which  cut  off  a  quarter  of  his  helmet, 
divided  his  shield,  and  Mling  on  his  shoulder,  would  have  slit 
him  to  the  middle,  had  not  the  sword  been  stopped  by  the 
toughness  of  a  serpent's  skin  which  he  wore  over  his  shirt. 
He  fell  to  the  ground:  and  though  he  was  speedily  replaced 
on  his  horse ;  though  Arthur  himself  was  overthrown  and 
unhorsed  by  the  crowd  of  giants  who  pressed  forward  to 
rescue  thoir  leader ;  the  attach  had  been  so  well  directed,  that 
the  great  standard  wus  token,  the  infidels  who  guarded  it 
dispersed  in  all  directions,  and  Ryance  at  lei^th,  after  an 
obstinate  conflict,  was  oUiged  to  fiy  bcfbre.  the  victorious 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


MBBLIX,   FAST   II.  141 

Arthur,  who,  singling  him  out  from  hi§  compimions,  pursued 
jiiin  inceMaatlf,  and  at  length  overtook  him  when  on  the 
point  of  joining  another  division  of  hie  armv.  At  this  second 
encounter  Rj-ance  received  a  dangerona  and  painAil  wound  in 
the  side,  and  dropped  his  excellent  sword  called  Marandoisc, 
which  became  the  prey  of  Arthur. 

As  Escalibore  was  certainly  the  best  sword  in  the  world, 
Arthur  seems  to  have  bad  litde  occasion  for  Marandoise :  but 
tiiere  is  perhaps  a  pleasure  in  cutting  off  infidel  heads  with 
an  infidel  weapon ;  and  in  this  pleasure  Arthur  induced  as 
long  as  his  horse  was  able  to  carry  him.  In  the  mean  time. 
Merlin  had  pursued  8  party  of  the  fiying  enemy  to  a  conside- 
rable  distance,  and  had  cast  an  enchantment  on  them,  by 
means  of  which  they  mistoclc  a  valley  which  lay  before  them 
for  a  deep  and  specious  lake,  into  which  they  declined  to 


Hereafter  sone,  in  this  write', 
Why  he  did  it  ye  shal  it  wite.* 

Bat  unforttmately  this  important  piece  of  information  is  lost 
to  posteri^,  because  the  whole  remainder  of  the  poem,  as  it 
now  esiets,  is  employed  in  describing  the  confused  scene  of 
dWEffihter  which  fbUowed  the  wound  and  flight  of  King  Ryance. 
1^  number  of  the  infidels  was  still  so  great,  and  the  field 
of  battle  so  extensive,  that  no  eye  but  that  of  a  conjuror  was 
capable  of  Gomprehendii^  the  whole  scene;  and  Merlin  alone 
was  aware,  that  whilst  the  army  of  Leodegan  was  b^inning 
to  triumph  in  all  quarters,  the  monarch  himself  was  in  the 
greatest  jeopardy.  Being  accidentally  separated  fixmi  his 
body  of  knights,  and  attended  only  by  his  &ithlul  steward 
Cleodalis,  he  had  been  suddenly  attacked  'by  a  large  troop  of 
the  enemy,  and  had  seen  his  good  steward  unhuraed  at  the 
first  onset.  A  dreadfiil  blow  from  Colocaulucon,  a  huge  man, 
brooght  the  Idng  also  to  the  ground,  and  with  such  violence, 
Aat  it  was  long  before  he  be^m  to  exhibit  any  signs  of  lifb. 
Cleodalis,  however,  who  was  already  on  his  feet,  bestrode  the 
body  of  his  master,  and,  wielding  his  sword  on  all  sides, 
mai^iQy  replied  the  crowd  of  assailants  till  the  king  re- 
coviercd  Ids  senses.  Leodegan  now  recollected  what  the 
reader  wiQ  perh^  have  ibrgotten;  vis-,  that  he  was  then 
'  WiitiDii  w«riu  •  Know. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


142  KA.SLT  ENOLTIH  KXTBICAX   B01[l.yCSB. 

Uring  in  adultery  with  the  botntiM  wife  ctf  thia  good  ste- 
ward, «nd,  Imediug  befiwe  him,  humbly  implored  bis  tarpn- 
DMS  IB  a  long  oratioo,  concluding  with 

"  Foi^Te  me  now  my  trespoB 
That  I  thee  haTe  done,  slas! 
I  pray  thee,  that  oerer  this  miadede 
Hy  wul  into  helle  lede!" 
CHeodalia,  of  courac,  foigare  bim  as  &st  aa  he  coold,  not 
only  because  he  wiabed  to  waive  a  disagreeable  gnbiect,  bat 
because,  as  he  properly  obeerred  to  his  master,  their  joint 
eflbrta  were  at  this  moment  very  necessary  to  preserve  them 
both  from  being  lulled  or  captured.  In  fact,  they  were  alter- 
nately felled  to  the  ground  ao  often,  that  their  atrength  vaa 
at  last  completely  exiuuuted;  and  they  were  on  the  point  t^ 
being  carried  off  by  the  enemy,  when  Merlin,  who  probably 
knew  exactly  their  powras  of  endurance,  and  had  been  un- 
willing to  interrupt  the  very  edifying  scene  of  their  recon- 
ciliation, arrived  with  his  knigbte,  mounted  them  both  on 
fr«flh  honea,  and  in  an  instant  destroyed  thea-  pertmactoua 
Msailants.  Arthor.  Ban,  Bobort,  Nacies,  and  their  com- 
pBmona,  who  by  Merlin's  directiuiB  had  taken  time  to  r«8t 
themselvM  and  their  hotaea,  now  dimeraed  tliemaehes  over 
Hm  field,  and  cut  to  pieces  all  the  infidd  leaden  wbo  feH  in 
their  way: 

Tlie  odier  patens  flowen  swiAe,' 

And  our  went  again,  bilive,* 

Into  the  dtf:  of  Canjiaise; 

With  ber  faien*  bem  made  at  aiae;* 

They  maden  givte  Utas  and  fisst. 

And  after,  yeden*  hem  to  zest, 
lltu  ends  this  fragment  of  more  than  ten  thousand  lines; 
the  transcriber,  as  it  should  seem,  thinking  that  he  also  had  a 
right  to  rest  from  his  labour,  which  he  had  not  the  courage  to 
resume.  "Hie  remainder  of  the  colnmn  was  occupied  by  part 
of  another  rottutnoe,  whidi,  aa  Sir  W.  Scott  informs  ns,  is 
totally  effiwed. 

Hew  qaicklr.    *  bnaM^italj.    *  CoMp«iB—.     *  Emc     ■  WcaL 


giiizcdt*  Google 


MORTE    ARTHUE, 


Thm  romance  wu  nerer  piinted,*  but  ed«to  in  US.  in  tLe 
Hsrietan  libraiy.  No.  2252.  Tbe  late  Mr.  Ritson  wm  of 
(^Knion  that  it  was  verafied  from  the  proae  work  of  the  eame 
Bune,  written  by  Halary,  and  printed  b;  Caston;  in  pmot 
of  i^ch,  he  coDt^ided  tliat  the  ityle  is  marked  by  an  evident 
afitctatiim  of  antiquity,  But  in  truth  it  difibra  most  etaai- 
timlly  from  M^cny'a  woHi,  which  was  a  meie  oompilatton; 
wUist  it  follows,  with  tolerable  exaetaees,  the  Firach  rmnaace 
of  Lancelot;  and  its  phnsecdogy,  whidi  mudi  reaemblea  that 
of  Chester,  and  other  autlion  t^tbe  fifteenth  oeutury.betnjv 
no  marks  ofaflectotiDn. 

Aa  thia  romance  contains  eoly  the  coRcloda^  scenea  of  the 
life  of  Arthur,  and  aa  Sir  Ijincelot,  the  hero  of  the  piece,  haa 
not  been  intxodnced,  in  the  preceding  fragment,  to  the  reader's 
acquaintance,  it  may  be  proper  in  this  pUee  to  give  a  ahort 
aketoh  of  his  antecedent  liistot;.  , 

King  Bia,  whose  Mto  o£  prowess  we  have  ao  often  wit- 
nessed, having  retivned  in  his  old  age  to  Briluiy,  was  uain 
attacked  by  his  inretccate  enemy  Claudas;  and  after  a  long 
war  saw  himself  rednced  to  the  poeseaei<Hi  of  a  single  fbrtreas, 
die  Bnpv^inable  eaatle  of  Trible,  where  he  was  besieged  hy 
&e  maetBj-  In  thia  extremity,  he  determined  to  stdicit  the 
jasistanee  of  Arthur,  and  esc^ied  in  a  dark  ni^t  with  his 
in&nt  son  lAncelot  and  hie  queen  Itolen,  leavmg  the  castle 
f£  Tiible  in  the  hands  of  his  senesehal,  who  imsiediately  be- 
tnyed  the  plaoe  to  Clandas.  The  flames  of  his  burning 
atadel  readied  the  eye*  of  the  nnibrtanate  nuniarch  dnring 
his  fli^t,  and  he  expired  with  grie£  Ihe  wretched  Helen, 
afaandoniiig  Ibr  a  moment  the  care  of  her  in&nt  son,  flew  to 
tbe  aaaistnnoe  of  her  husband,  and,  returning  after  a  fruit- 
hm  attempt  to  restore  his  life,  discovered  the  little  Lasodbt 
inthearmsof  anjmph.whoonbfflr  BfyriMiehaBddenly^tttutt 
wi&  the  child  into  a  deep  hike,  and  instantly  dis«iif>eaiea. 
Una  wjxapk  waa  the  beautiM  Vivian,  (he  nustreaa  of  the 
■nrUedbfaeHadrartbsClib,«au  1819. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


144  ejuii.t  ENOLisn  xsisicAi,  soMAiicEfl. 

eaehuaUa  MerUs,  who  thought  fit  to  undertake  the  education 
of  the  in&Dt  hero  at  her  court,  which  was  situated  within 
this  imnginory  lake;  and  hence  her  piq)il  was  aftenrards  dis- 
tin^uiaheid  bjr  the  name  of  Lancelot  du  Lac. 

The  queen,  after  this  double  loss,  retired  to  a  convent, 
wbcreehe  was  soon  joined  by  the  widow  of  Bohort;  for  this 
good  king,  on  learning  the  death  of  his  brother,  died  also  of 
grief^  leaving  two  in&nt  sons,  Lyonel  and  Bohort;  who  having 
been  for  some  time  secreted  by  a  &ith(ul  knight,  named. 
Farien,  from  (he  fiiry  of  Claudas,  were  afterwards  carried  off 
by  the  lady  of  the  lake,  and  educated  iu  company  with  Iheir 
cousin  Lancehit. 

The  fairy,  when  her  pupil  had  attained  the  age  of  eighteen, 
conveyed  him  to  the  court  of  Arthur,  for  the  purpoee  of  de- 
manding his  odmiggion  to  the  honour  of  knighthood;  and  at 
the  first  appearance  of  the  youthful  candidate,  the  graces  of 
his  person,  which  were  not  inferior  'to  his  courage  and  ac- 
tivity, made  an  instantaneous  and  indelible  impression  on  the 
heart  of  Ouenever,  while  her  charms  inspired  Ti'in  with  an 
equally  ardent  and  constant  pnseion.  The  amours  of  these 
lovers  throw  a  very  singular  colouring  over  the  whole  history 
of  Arthur.  It  is  for  the  sake  of  Ouenever  that  the  amoroua 
liancelot  achieves  the  conquest  of  Northumberland;  that  he 
defeats  Gallehaut,  king  of  the  marches,  who  afterwards  be- 
comes his  secret  and  most  atta<:^ed  confident;  that  he  cleaves 
down  numberless  giants,  and  lays  whole  cargoes  of  tributary 
crowns  at  the  feet  of  his  suzerain,  finding,  in  his  stolen  intcr- 
viewe  with  the  queen,  an  ample  indemnification  for  his 
various  hardships  and  labours.  But  this  is  not  all.  Arthur, 
deceived  by  the  artifices  of  the  false  Ouenever,  who  was,  as 
we  have  seen,  the  illM^timate  daughter  of  Leodcgan,  declares 
her  the  partner  of  his  throne,  end  dismiBses  his  queen  to  a 
distant  province;  where  she  is  immediately  joined  by  her 
lover,  and  follows  without  restraint  the  natural  bent  of  her 
inclinations.  Yet  Lancelot  b  dissatisfied;  it  is  necessary  to 
tiie  dignity  of  his  mistress,  that  she  should  still  share  the  bed 
of  ArLnur,  and  that,  protected  in  the  reputation  by  the  sword 
of  ber  lover,  she  should  lead  a  lifb  of  ceremonious  and  spleU' 
did  adulteiT.  This  point  is  accomplished,  and  their  inter* 
course  oontinoes  as  usual.  The  prow  romance  of  Lancebt  is 
i^parently  oompoeed  of  ^ueds  and  patches,  and  is  too  haig 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


HOKTE  ASTHUB.  145 

for  abridgment ;  tnit  tliere  is  a  metrical  romance  respecting 
this  kero,  composed  by  Chiestien  de  Troyes  in  the  twelfth  cen- 
tnry,  and  called  "  La  Cbarette,"  which  has  the  air  ot'  being 
translated  from  a  Breton  lay.  and  seems  to  possess  consider- 
able merit  It  is  analysed  in  the  Bibliotheque  des  Romans 
(April  1777)  from  a  MS.  belonging  to  the  Comte  de  Caylus; 
but  such  readers  as  have  not  an  opportunify  of  consulting  tbat 
work  may  perhaps  be  ^lad  to  find  here  an  abridged  para^irase 
of  this  ancient  and  curious  poem. 

At  a  festival  of  the  Ascensiait,  while  Arthur,  smrouoded  by 
his  Imi^ts.  was  still  at  table,  an  unknown  kni^t  completely 
armed,  and  having  his  vizor  lowered  so  as  to  conceal  his 
features,  entered  the  hall,  and  requested  a  bocm  from  the  king 
and  queen;  which  they  inconsiderately  granted.  Then  as- 
sntDisg  a  sterner  tone,  he  said,  "Sir  kmg,  I  have  in  my 
prisons  many  damea  and  damsels  of  thy  court,  whom  I  wiU 
keep  in  thy  despite,  unless  thou  find  a  knight  hardy  enough 
to  attempt  their  deliverance  In- josting  with  me.  I  will  wait 
in  the  adjoining  wood.  Should  I  be  unhorsed,  I  promise  to 
deliver  all  my  prisoners ;  but  I  requite  that  thy  queen  accom- 
pany thy  champion. — so  that,  if  victorious,  I  may  cany  both 
together  into  captivity." 

Sir  Kay  the  seneschal,  constantly  eager  tor  adventures, 
which  as  constantly  brought  him  to  di^race,  immediately 
daimed  this  also;  and  Arthur,  blinded  by  his  indignation, 
accepted  the  vSet,  observing  that  Uie  _^^'-knight  did  not 
deserve  a  nobler  adversary.  The  other  tauntingly  replied, 
that  a  short  time  would  show  whether  he  deserved  such  a 
reproacbfal  appellation;  that  be  diould  expect  to  meet  Sir 
Kay  with  no  other  company  tlian  that  of  the  queen;  but  that 
half  an  hour  would  decide  their  contest, — after  which  he 
should  be  ready  to  meet  a  new  combatant. 

The  tone  in  whiiifa  these  words  were  prononhced  somewhat 
disconcerted  Sir  Kav,  and  alarmed  Arthur,  who,  having 
passed  his  word,  could  no  longer  recede.  Sir  Lancelot  and 
Sir  Oawain,  boiling  with  impatieDce,  armed  themselves, 
kaped  upon  their  horses,  counted  every  minute  as  it  passed, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  the  half-hour  galloped  at  ftdl  speed 
to  the  field  of  battle,  which  was  not  more  than  a  thousand 
n  with  thB  luiul  modern  meaning 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


146  EASLY  ENetilflH  HI 


Moesd 

SirKaj 


•  dittant  from  the  hilL    llief  BniTed.  however,  too  late. 

r  Haj  )uw1  been  unborsed,  dresdfuU^  bruircd,  bound  bond 
«ad  foot,  and  carried  off,  together  with  the  queen;  bat  m 
there  were  two  roods  which  proceeded  from  the  place  of  com- 
bat, it  wu  impoBtiUe  ta  guees  which  they  had  followed. 
Sir  I^noelot  ai^  Sir  Oawain  therefore  separated.  Hie  tx- 
■Mr,  viging  his  h<wse  to  its  utmost  speed,  and  hoping  at 
tfnrj  instant  to  gain  sight  of  tbe  ftigitivvs,  met  with  a  oe^ 
mt,  in  which  his  courser  fell  and  broke  his  leg.  The  knight, 
■Imast  frantic  with  rage,  proceeded  on  foot  with  as  mucli 
speed  as  hta  heavy  armour  would  permit,  and  at  length  over- 
taok  a  cart,  driven  by  a  very  deformed  dwarf;  who,  on  being 
qnestioDed  ooooeming  the  route  fd  tlie  tugitivee,  pro&ased  to 
BKn  seen  titem,  and  pnmuaed,  if  the  hero  would  mount  his 
oart,  that  he  would  eoon  put  him  into  the  proper  road. 

It  seems  that  carts  were  at  this  time  extremely  scarce. 
Oaa  was  thon^t  sufGcient  for  a  moderate  town ;  becanae 
they  were  only  used  for  the  pnrpoae  of  carrying  out  filth,  or 
of  oonveying  criminala  to  the  place  of  executitm.  Lancelot 
was  perhaps  ignorant  of  this,  or  perhaps  indifibrent  about  the 
mode  of  conveyance,  provided  he  had  a  diance  of  overtaking 
his  mLBtress :  he  therefore  placed  himself  as  oommodiously  as 
ha  could  in  this  uncouth  equipage,  and  only  lamented  that 
after  much  jolting  he  made  littje  progress.  In  the  maan 
Haaa,  the  road  which  Oawain  follow^  bad  insenubly  led  him 
into  that  of  Lancelot.  He  met  the  dwarf;  to  whom,  without 
Dtftioing  bis  friend,  he  put  the  same  questions,  and  received 
the  same  answer :  but  b^ng  on  honeback,  he  of  course  de- 
elined  the  proposition;  and,  having  then  reotwnised  the  other 
koq^  strongly  but  ineftotuaUy  repreaented  to  him  the  in- 
deocHimi  of  such  a  mode  of  travelling. 

At  night-&ll  they  arrived  at  a  castle,  the  lady  of  whidi 
imtoediately  come  out  at  the  head  of  her  damsels  to  welcome 
Sir  Oawain,  but  was  with  diCGcnl^  induced  to  admit  within 
her  walls  his  oompankm,  whom  she  supposed  to  be  a  criminal, 
or  at  least  a  prisoner.  At  supper.  Sir  Lancelot  was  on  the 
point  of  bein^  consigned  to  the  Idtcbem,  and  only  admitted  to 
the  lady's  taUe  at  the  eaniest  solicitation  of  Sir  Oawain;  bat 
iM)  aatraatiea  oould  persuade  the  damsels  to  prepare  a  bed  for 
bim.  He  seized  the  first  iriuch  he  found  unocciqiied,  and 
dept  quietly  till  moming. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


The  windows  of  tlie  CMtle  oommanded  an  cztennve  view 
of  the  country:  and  I^ncelot,  having  observed  at  some  dis< 
tMM  on  the  plain  a  proceedoa  accompanying  a  lady  in  a  veil, 
in  wfacm  he  recognised  a  Hlri*!!™  to  the  &it  Guenerer,  nid- 
fa^  fell  down  in  a  swoon;  an  accident  very  uauoi  with 
SMonva  kni^tB,  but  always  productive  of  wonder  and  cn- 
litMitf  in  the  by-atanden.  The  ladv  of  the  castle  imputed  it 
to  wiBie  and  vexati<Ht  at  the  recoUection  of  the  diwrocefiil 
out;  bnt  Gawain,  on  his  friend's  recovery,  thought  his  sua- 
maioa  very  probable,  and  became  equally  eager  to  dt^nrt. 
IWar  fiiir  borten  supplied  Lancelot  with  a  horse  and  spear; 
Hmf  tntverae  the  plaiin  at  fidl  speed;  and  learn  from  ionw 
tBvdlen  that  the  lady  whom  Uiey  bod  discovered  was  in 
fiwt  die  lovely  Gnenever;  that  she  was  led  captive  by  Me- 
leagans,  son  of  Brademagus,  king  of  Goire;  and  that  there 
weie  but  two  roads  which  led  to  ber  intended  prison,  both  of 
iriiidi  weie  known  to  abound  in  the  moat  perilous  odventureo. 
Ucce,  therefore,  the  friends  again  separated.  Lancelot,  aitet 
enooimteriog  and  overcmnii^  numerous  obstacles,  was  ac- 
PtMteid  on  the  evening  of  the  second  day  by  a  young  and 
apottive  beauty,  who  gnily  proposed  to  him  a  supper  in  ber 
cude;  giving  him  at  the  same  time  to  understand,  that  their 
Rynt  would  not  be  interrupted  by  the  presence  of  any  third 
pcnm.  The  knight,  who  was  hungry  and  weary,  and  whose 
none  was  almost  exhausted,  aoceptcd  the  proposal,  though 
with  no  very  good  grace;  supped  varodouely;  demanded  a 
i^aiate  room;  and,  without  paying  any  attention  to  some 
ray  intelligible  glaikces,  retired  to  rest,  and  slept  most  ob- 
■tiMitely  tm  his  slumb^  were  disturbed  by  loud  and  shrill 
daidce  proceeding  from  the  lady's  apartment  He  hnstify 
pat  OB  bis  armour,  and,  proceeding  to  the  place,  found  ber 
atts^ling  in  the  embraces  of  a  knight,  wbom  he  instantly  . 
attacked,  and  would  have  punisbcd  for  his  insolence  but  toe 
tfe  interpodtioa  of  six  attendants,  who  jointly  assaulted  our 
hetB  and  rescued  the  ravish^.  He  now  tumtd  bis  anna 
aninst  these  new  enemies,  cut  off  the  hand  of  one.  the  head 
of  asiother.  and  pierced  a  third  through  the  body ;  but  waa 
nacii  sni-prised,  wbeo,  in  the  midst  of  his  career,  the  whole 
saene  vanished,  and  he  found  that  bis  fair  entertainer  was  no 
other  than  his  guardian  fairy,  wbo  had  put  him  to  this  tri^ 
of  bia  fideli^  at^  coon^,  and  who  now  declared  bim  woitl^ 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


146  EABLT  EKGLtSE  KETXICAL  ROHAXCES. 

of  ber  future  protection.  Lancelot  again  retired  to  rcet,  and 
on  tho  next  day  tiie  fairy  condescended  to  conduct  him  intc 
the  direct  road.  AAcr  eome  bours,  she  led  him  to  8  fountain, 
where  they  alighted  to  refi^sh  their  horses;  and  the  fiurVi 
pointing  out  to  lAnceliit  a  comb  of  Itoit  inlaid  with  gtdd, 
and  a  ringlet  of  most  beautiful  hair,  whicb  lav  on  the  grass, 
informed  nim  that  Ih^  belonged  to  bis  lorely  que^t,  iriw 
hod  stopped  there  on  the  preceding  day,  and  whoae  trnces  be 
-would  now  find  it  easy  to  follow.  Lancelot,  after  kissing  the 
precious  comb  with  great  ferrency,  and  placing  the  rin^et 
near  his  heart,  took  leave  of  the  fiury;  from  whom  he  re- 
ceived, ti^cther  with  asBumnces  of  her  further  assistance,  a 
rii^,  which,  by  its  chioiges  of  coloor,  hod  the  virtue  of  dis- 
covering and  rendering  nugatory  all  enchantments  intended 
to  delay  his  prt^ress. 

Hie  knight  pursued  his  journey  without  being  much  in- 
commoded, except  by  the  bad  jokes  of  numerous  tia.Tellers, 
all  of  whom  seemed  to  have  learned  by  inspiration  his  dis- 
graceful airing-  in  the  cart.  One,  more  insolent  than  the  rest, 
had  the  audacity  to  interrupt  him  during  dinner,  and  even  to 
risk  a  battle  in  support  of  his  pleasantry.  Lancelot,  after  an 
easy  victory,  only  doomed  him  to  be  carted  in  his  turn;  but, 
learning  from  a  &ir  damsel,  his  accuser,  that  his  morality  was 
still  more  execrable  than  his  wit,  provoked  him  to  a  second 
combat,  and  cut  off  bis  head;  which  the  lady  carried  away 
with  great  murks  of  satia&ction. 

At  night,  the  hero  was  received  in  another  castle  witb 
great  apparent  hospitality,  but  found  himself  in  the  momii^ 
in  a  dungeon,  and  loaded  with  chains.  Consulting  his  ring, 
and  finding  that  this  was  an  enchantment,  he  burst  his  '■l"nn'<t 
Beiecd  his  armoiir  in  spite  of  the  visioiiary  monsters  who  at- 
tempted to  defend  it,  broke  open  the  gates  of  the  tower,  and 
continued  his  journey.  At  length  his  pK^ress  was  chet^ed 
by  a  wide  and  rapid  torrent,  which  could  only  be  passed  by 
wnlkiug  on  the  edge  of  a  vast  and  sharp  scimitar.  Lancelot, 
leading  his  horse  hy  the  bridle,  and  causing  him  to  swim  hy 
his  side,  advanced  without  hesitation  upon  this  very  incco- 
Tcnicnt  bridge,  and  reached  the  opposite  bank  after  cutting 
his  feet  to  the  bone.  He  next,  wounded  as  he  was,  atlackea 
and  lulled  a  lion  and  a  leopard,  who  opposed  his  landing; 
and  then,  havii^  seated  himself  on  the  grass,  was  endeavour- 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


KOKTE   ABTBUB.  149 

ing  to  stop  with  hiB  handkerchief  the  effonoti  of  blood,  which 
WQB  very  considerable,  when  he  was  accosted  by  .Bradeinagua. 
btfaer  of  Meleagane,  whose  castle  was  then  in  sight,  and  at 
no  great  distance.  This  kii^,  not  less  courteous  than  his  soil 
was  haughty  and  insolent,  after  complimentinE  him  on  the 
valour  and  skill  with  wbidi  he  had  achieved  tne  passage  of 
the  bridge,  otfered  him  his  assistance ;  ond,  on  being  quts- 
tioned  respecting  Guenever,  replied  that  she  was  safe  in  his 
«aBtle,  from  whence  she  might  be  rescued  by  any  knight  who 
should  succeed  in  conquering  Meleagans.  Lancelot  imme- 
diately demanded  the  battle  for  next  day;  and  the  proper 
preparatione  being  made,  it  took  place  at  the  foot  of  the 
tower,  and  under  the  eyes  of  the  &ir  captive,  llie  contest 
would  have  been  Tery  short,  had  her  lover  retained  his  usual 
strength  and  activity;  but,  almost  fainting  from  the  anguish 
(rf  his  wounds  and  from  continued  loss  of  blood,  he  b^an  to 
stagger  and  give  way,  when  Ouenever  exclaimed,  "Ah,  Lan- 
celot, my  luiight!  truly  have  I  been  told  that  thou  art  no 
Imiger  worthy  of  me."  The  voice  and  presence  of  his  mis- 
tress, and  this  Btrai^  reproach  which  ho  was  unconscious  of 
having  merited,  insbmtly  revived  the  drooping  knight;  who, 
reroming  at  once  his  usual  superiority,  soon  laid  at  his  feet 
iiis  haugh^  adversary,  and  was  on  tiie  point  of  sacrificing 
him  to  &  resentment,  when  Guenever,  moved  by  the  earnest 
entreaties  of  Brodemogus,  ordered  him  to  withhold  the  blow- 
He  did  BO,  and  even  pudoncd  a  base  attempt  of  his  prostrate 
enemy  to  stab  him  at  the  moment  of  his  generous  forbear- 
ance. The  castle  and  all  its  prisoners  were  now  at  his  dis- 
posal; but  be  consented,  at  the  request  of  Braderoague,  to 
give  his  prmnise  of  meeting  Mele^ans  at  the  expiration  of  a 
twelvemonth,  at  the  court  of  Arthur,  and  of  there  renewing 
the  contest  t<^  a  prize  which  was  already  his  own  by  the 
rif^t  of  conquest. 

Lancelot  flew  to  the  apartment  of  the  queen,  threw  himself 
at  her  feet,  and  prepared  to  kiss  her  hand,  when  she  ex- 
claimed, "Ah,  Lancelot!  why  do  I  see  thee  again  without 
daring  to  think  thee  worthy  of  me,  aiter  thon  hast  been  dis- 

gncefully  drawn  about  the  country  in "     Sha  had 

not  time  to  finish  the  phrase;  for  her  lover  suddenly  started 
from  her,  and,  loudly  lamenting  that  he  had  incurred  the  oon- 
tempt  and  indignation  of  Idslady,  rushed  out  of  the  castle. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


IJSO  EABLT  ENGLIBB  IIETBICAL  BOIUMCEB. 

threw  his  shield  and  sword  to  the  right  and  left,  ran  flmoialy 
into  the  fields,  and  disappeued. 

It  Kema  liiat  the  etoty  <^  the  abominable  cart,  which 
bannted  Lancelot  at  every  step,  had  reached  the  ears  al  Sir 
Kay,  who  had  told  it  to  the  queen  as  a  proof  that  her  kni^t 
mnst  have  been  dishonoui«a.  But  Qnenever  had  full  leinre 
to  repent  the  haste  with  which  ehe  had  given  credit  to  the 
tale.  Meleagans,  hearing  no  tiding*  of  Lftacelot,  detemmied 
to  keep  his  piiaoaers;    and,  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the 

rien,  ordered  the  windows  of  her  chamber,  which  was  on 
gronnd  floor,  to  be  carefully  closed  by  a  sort  of  wicket 
composed  of  strong  ban  of  iron,  fixed  on  stout  iron  hiaget, 
and  locked  every  night.  In  her  antechamber  slept  her  fellow- 
^Boner  Sir  Kay,  and  beyond  him  a  guard  of  Boldiers. 

In  tiie  mean  time.  Sir  Lancelot,  having  wandered  during 
three  days  without  kiKiwing  where  he  went,  begun  to  reflect 
that  it  might  have  been  wiser  to  disabuse  his  mistress  Qma  to 
nm  away  from  her;  he  therefore  returned  by  night  to  the 
tower,  and,  guided  l^  a  lamp  in  the  queen's  chamb^,  reoAtd 
the  grated  wicket,  and  called  in  a  low  voice  on  OneaeKr- 
Bhe  was  already  in  bed,  but  not  asleep ;  and,  starting  at  the 
vmce  of  her  lover,  rose  in  her  shift,  which  (says  the  poem) 
was  "passing  white,"  listened  with  silent  pleasure  to  his 
exculpation,  and  putting  ha-  hand  through  the  bars,  oBartd  it 
to  the  lips  of  Lancelot  as  the  seal  of  her  forgiveness.  Hie 
knight,  in  a  transport  of  joy,  seized  the  iron  wicket,  lifted  it 
off  the  hinges,  and  springing  into  the  i^uunber,  oontii»ed 
with  the  queen  till  day-brrak ;  when  he  escaped  undiscovered, 
having  carefidly  replaced  the  wicket  in  its  fbrmn  positiaD. 
It  hwpated,  nowerer,  that,  having  scratdied  hia  1^  m 
"""■ It  of  the  window,  some  blood  flowed  into  the  rr™ - 


ides  which,  one  of  his  gloves,  which  he  had  dropped  in  his 
hurry,  remained  as  evidence  of  some  nocturnal  visit  to  the 
fiur  prisoner's  chamber. 

On  the  fbllowing  day,  Meleagans,  coming  to  visit  GnoMTCr, 
observed  this  glove  and  the  traces  of  blood ;  from  whi^  m 
the  wit&et  was  ^parently  untouched,  and  as  it  was  imfOB- 
Bible  that  any  one  could  have  twice  passed  unobserved  thioagli 
a  room  taH  of  guards,  he  naturally  suspected  Sir  Kay  cf  beiag 
the  qpieen's  paramour,  and  insiMed  on  proving  the  truth  of 
his  Bti»pici<a  by  an  appeal  to  arms.     It  was  in  vain  tfiattbe 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


diuBstrons  ge&eBchal  prodnoed  his  two  dove^  tnd  protested 
that  he  had  neither  » thiid  hand  nhich  had  been  deprived  ol 
its  soTeriiiK,  nor  any  wouwl  on  his  person  frcm  whence  the 
blood  could  have  proceeded;  the  combat  waa  ptodaimed; 
and  he  was  forced  to  prepare  for  the  low  of  a  t^wnd  battle, 
aa  ho  had  no  reason  to  h^e  for  the  ai^teanoice  of  any  othor 
champion. 

Another  champion  howerer  did  appear,  and  the  heart  of 
MeleaganB  imm^iately  told  him  that  this  waa  no  other  diait 
the  mimidable  luioelot.  His  guardian  &iry  had  restored  to 
him  his  horse  and  arms;  his  recent  wovmds  were  perfectly 
healed;  and  the  peijured  Meleagana,  covered  with  braiaes, 
was  again  compelled,  in  the  sight  of  his  father  and  of  his  aub- 
iects,  to  implore  the  mercy  of  his  conqueror,  who,  at  parting. 
Bad  the  generosity  to  renew  the  promise  of  meeting  him  «t 
Arthur's  court  aiter  the  expiration  of  a  twelvemonth.  Lane»- 
lot  now  departed  with  the  queen,  the  seneschal,  and  tba  otlto' 
prisoners;  and,  taking  the  road  by  which  they  expected  the 
arrival  of  Oawain,  had  the  satisbction  of  meeting  him  on  the 
second  dw;  oAer  which,  the  whole  company  proceeded  gaQy 
towards  dard^;an.  But  the  malicious  ingenui^  of  Metet^an* 
ms  not  vut  exhausted.  A  vile  little  dwuf,  who  was  statioBtd 
■t  the  side  of  the  rood,  contriTed,  by  tearing  his  ugly  hair  asd 
■bedding  torrenta  of  tears,  to  interest  the  g»terans  Laneelirt 
in  &vDur  of  a  sappoeed  lady,  who  was  represented  as  exposed 
ta  evety  sort  of  indignity  in  a  neighbouring  caMle-  lie 
ioonttioafl  knight,  after  assuring  his  compamODS  that  t^i" 
adventnre  could  not  last  loi^.  and  that  he  would  speedily 
njtnn  them,  consented  to  fo&w  the  treacherous  dwtui;  C^ 
into  an  ambush  which  was  prepared  ibr  him,  and  was  plunged 
into  a  dungeon.  Qawoin  and  the  queen,  eAer  waiting  tor 
Urn  in  vein  dnring  a  day  and  a  night,  were  obliged  to  lesume 
tibeir  jonmey,  and  arrived  without  him  at  Cardigan.' 

After  an  impriBonment  of  six  months,  during  which  Arthsr 
{n  vain  attempted  to  gain  any  information  concerning  him,  hp 
i^ipeared  for  a  moment,  and  again  as  suddenly  vanished,  with. 
OBt  reveahng  to  any  one  the  place  of  his  habitation.  The 
fidlowing  are  the  ciicmnstances  of  this  event: — 

Hie  damsels  of  ArUiur's  court  obtained  his  permiaaioiw  and 

■  Hera  aidi  the  comporitlon  of  ChrwSMB  di  Trarasi  HmwmaiaiKit 
by  Qeoffraj  da  lipLj. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


152  Ei.aLY  ZKOLisn  hetricu:^  koicavoes. 

dtat  of  Guenever,  to  proclaim  a  Eolemn  tonnuiment,  the  am- 
ditions  of  which  were,  that  the  victor  koight  should  have  a 
ri^t  to  select  the  mont  beautiful  of  them  aa  his  wife ;  and 
tlut  her  dower  should  be  formed  from  the  sale  of  the  horses 
and  arms  of  the  vanquished.  The  singularity  of  the  propoBal 
attracted  crowds  of  combatants,  who,  dividing  themselves 
into  troops,  contested  the  prize  with  various  success,  till  an 
unknown  knight,  suddenly  entering  the  lists,  attacked  the 
rival  parties  in  turns,  and,  forcing  them  one  upon  another, 
drove  the  whole  before  him  to  the  extremity  of  the  lists. 
Guenever,  suspecting  from  the  unparalleled  address  of  the 
Ktrangcr  that  he  could  be  no  other  than  Lancelot,  sent  to  him 
one  of  her  damsels,  with  this  messa^ ;  "  Sir  knight,  the  queen 
orders  that  at  the  instant  thoa  shnlt  suffer  thyself  to  be  con- 
quered." In  a  moment  he  appeared  awkward  and  irresolute ; 
lost  ground;  retreated,  amidst  the  shouts  and  laughter  of  the 
spectators,  to  the  further  end  of  the  lists;  and  was  preparing 
to  quit  them  altogether,  when  a  second  message  oidered  him 
to  reassmnc  his  former  superiority.  He  obeyed;  and,  tum- 
ii^  tm.  his  pursuers  with  the  rapidi^  of  lightning,  overthrew 
them  all  in  succession,  collected  their  horses  into  a  body, 
drew  them  up  before  the  queen's  balcony;  and,  having  desired 
that  she  woidd  cause  them  to  be  sold,  and  distribute  the  pur- 
diase  money  among  her  damsels,  made  a  low  bow,  and 
returned  at  full  speed  to  his  prison,  leaving  Guenever  in  the 
utmost  astonishment  at  his  sudden  apparition. 

It  seems  that  the  seneschal  who  had  the  custody  of  Lance- 
lot, being  obliged  to  leave  the  castle  during  some  days, 
intrusted  the  prisoner  to  the  care  of  his  wife ;  and  the  wife, 
thinking  it  a  great  pity  do  detain  such  a  handsome  kuight  in 
a  dungeon,  gave  him  his  liberty  for  a  week,  and  even  supplied 
him  with  her  husband's  horse  and  armour,  on  his  promise  to 
return,  at  the  expiration  of  the  term,  to  his  confinement. 
The  seneschal  returning  a  little  too  soon  was  much  alarmed 
at  his  wife's  indiscretion,  and  hastened  to  impart  his  fears 
to  Meleagans,  who,  however,  laughed  at  his  apprehension; 
aasuring  him  that  the  promise  of  Ijmcclot  vros  sacred;  but  at 
^  BOme  time  advised  him  to  treat  his  prisoner  in  future  with 
inoreued  severity.  I'he  barbarous  oider  was  obeyed;  the 
kau^t,  chained  to  the  ground  and  imperfectly  fed  on  bread 
ua  waUv,  daily  lost  biS  health  and  vigour;  the  year  waa 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


UOETB  ABTHtlB.  153 

nettljr  expbed;  and  all  the  eSorts  of  Ouenerer  to  obtain  any 
news  of  her  champion  having  proTed  &iiitles8,  the  triumph  of 
Udeagana  appeared  to  be  secure. 

But  at  this  criUcol  joomeDt  a  young  and  beautiful  lady, 
smrounded'by  guards,  and  followed  by  a  splendid  retinue, 
arrivod  at  the  fotal  castle.  The  senescnal  recognised  in  her 
&fttures  the  charming  daughter  of  Brademsgus,  and  siater  o^ 
his  master  Meleagaos ;  listened  with  respectful  credulity  to  a 
long  story  respecting  the  motives  of  her  journey ;  and  sub. 
miesiTely  executed  Uie  Tarious  orders  which  she  issued  with 
an  air  of  conscious  authority.  She  slept  in  the  caatle ;  and 
next  morning,  complaining  that  her  rest  had  been  dkturbed 
by  the  groans  of  a  prisoner,  directed  that  he  should  be 
inatontly  released;  received  him  with  the  most  marked 
distinction;  administered  to  hiro  such  restoratives  as  imme- 
diately renewed  his  health  and  strength;  armed  him  with  her 
own  hands;  supplied  him  with  an  excellent  war-horse;  and, 
to  the  utter  astonishment  of  the  seneschal,  carried  him  off  to 
the  court  of  Arthur.  At  the  moment  of  entering  the  city  of' 
Cardigan,  she  made  herself  known  to  Idnoelot  as  the  lady  ot 
the  lake,  his  guardian  fairy,  and  honouring  him  with  a  kiss 
on  the  fbTchcad,  vanished  from  his  sight. 

Sbileagane,  true  to  his  appointment,  was  already  in  the 
lists,  braving  all  the  round  table,  and  loudly  calling  on  Lance- 
lot,  whose  appearance  to  meet  ibe  challenge  he  naturally  con 
■idered  as  impoMible.  .A^ain  and  again  he  repeated  his 
defiance;  but  at  last  a  w^-known  voice  answered,  "Behold 
toe',  let  us  begin  the  combat."  Tbongh  appalled  by  the 
eanacionoiesa  of  his  crimes,  and  hy  the  recollection  of  his 
rival's  superiority,  the  wretched  man  summoned  all  his  reso- 
hition,  and,  being  animated  by  despair,  defended  his  life  with 
groat  skill  and  obstinacy:  but  his  utmost  efforts  could  only 
oelav  the  triumph  of  Sir  Lancelot,  who,  after  piercing  him  to 
the  heart,  received  the  crown  of  victory  from  die  hands  of  his 
royal  mistress. 

Thus  ends  the  romance  of  La  Charette,  the  joint  work  of 
Ghrcstien  de  Troves  and  of  Geoffitiy  de  Ligny ;  to  the  former 
fff  whom  we  owe  the  story  of  Le  Chevalier  au  Lion,  the  ori- 
nnal  of  a  most  beautiiiil  old  English  poem  called  Ywain  and 
Qawsin,  translated,  (as  I  suspect)  Iw  Clerk  of  Tranent,  and 
pobfished  by  the  late  Mr.  Ritaon.    We  now  proceed  to  tha 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


1S4  EASLT  ETiaLISH  XETXICAX  BOKjUTCES. 

romance  of  Uwte  ArUmr,  which,  u  we  have  already  obeamA, 
ia  translated  from  a  French  prom  romance  of  the  same  name, 
forming,  in  the  prin^'ed  copies  of  the  romance  of  Lancdot  da 
Lac,  the  fifth  and  laat  part  of  that  stary.  It  also  ezista  in 
MS.  in  Douce's  library  at  Oxford,  and  at  the  Mneenm. 


The  knights  of  the  round  table  had  completed  the  qnest  at 
flie  Sttn-Gr^al,  and  had  firmly  eetabliahed  the  empire  of 
Arthur,  by  the  defeat  of  all  his  enemies.  Foot  years  oT  peace 
and  tianquillity  had  been  endured  by  these  august  penoaagea 
with  tolerable  patience  i  but  at  length  they  became  tired  of 
liTing  on  the  recollection  of  old  adventures,  and  anxious  to 
achieTQ  new  ones;  and  Arthur  joyfully  adopted  the  ttdvioe  of 
Quenerer,  to  proclaim  a  solemn  tournamrait  at  Wiochester, 
under  the  direction  of  Sir  Galehaut. 

.llie  king,  not  less  impatient  than  bis  knights  fbr  this 
festival,  set  o£F  some  days  before  to  superintend  &e  prepan- 
tions,  leaving  the  queen  with  her  court  at  Camalat.  Sir 
Lancelot,  undw  pretext  of  indiaposition,  remained  behind 
also;  aikd  Sir  Agrsvain  staid  to  watch  the  ctnduct  of  ikb 
loretB.  They,  however,  at  this  time  disappointed  his  ndiee. 
Lancelot  meant  no  more  than  to  attsid  the  tonmameBt  in 
diaguise;  and,  having  eommnnieated  hia  project  to  his  mis- 
treas,  mounted  his  horse,  set  off  witbont  ai^  atlotdant,  and 
counterfeiting  the  feebleness  of  age,  to«^  the  most  mfife- 
qnented  road  to  Win^iester,  and  passed  unnoticed,  as  kb  old 
knight  who  was  ^ing  to  be  a  spectator  of  the  sports.  Even 
Ar^nr  and  Ywain,  who  happened  to  behold  him  bom  the 
windows  of  a  castle  under  wluch  be  passed,  were  the  dnpea 
of  his  disguise.  Bnt  an  accident  bebayed  him.  His  bene 
hi^fie&ed  to  stumble;  and  the  hero,  fb^etting  fbr  a  nomeot 
his  assumed  character,  recovered  the  ammal  with  a  stre^di 
and  agility  so  peculiar  to  himflf,  that  they  instantly  reeog' 
nised  the  mimitable  Lancelot.  They,  however,  snfikred  Ian 
to  proceed  on  his  journey  without  intemipticHi,  uuuiiuud 
that  his  eztnordinary&ata  of  aims  must  discover  him  at  the 
qwroaching  fiMtivaL 

la  the  eveoii^,  Ijmcelat  was  magnificoilly  Mttertaiiwd,  as 
•  stranger  kni^t,  at  the  neighbouring  castle  of  Asoelot.  The 
Vxd  of  thia  ewUe  lud  a  daa^tUac  w  exquisite  beau^;  wad 
two  aona,  kt^  noemd  into  tbe  crier  of  kni^ubood,  ime  ef 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


whom  waa  at  that  time  siek  in  bed,  and  thereby  prevented 
&Qm  attending  the  tonmameDt,  tx  which  the  twu  brothers 
hkd  long  made  the  neeeeaary  prepaiationB.  Lancelot  offered 
to  attend  the  other,  if  he  were  permitted  to  borrow  the  armour 
of  the  invalid ;  and  the  lord  of  Ascahit,  without  knowing  the 
name  of  his  guest,  being  satiafied  from  his  appeannce  that  his 
Km  could  not  have  a  better  aaeistant  in  aima,  most  thankfully 
accepted  the  offer.  In  die  mean  time,  the  young  hidy,  who 
had  been  much  struck  by  the  fiiat  appearance  of  die  stranger 
knight,  continued  to  survey  him  with  increased  attention,  and, 
before  the  conclusion  of  nipper,  became  Bo  deeply  enamonred  of 
him,  that,  aflcr  frequent  changes  of  colow,  and  other  symptoms 
which  the  esperienced  Sir  Lancelot  could  not  poaaibly  mistake, 
ihe  was  obliged  to  retire  to  her  chamber,  where  she  threw 
herself  on  her  bed,  and  hty  drowned  in  tean. 

Lancelot  wist  what  waa  her  will ; 
Wen  he  knew  bv  other  mo:' 

Her  brother  cleped*  he  him  till ;  * 
And  to  her  chamber  gonne  they  ge. 

He  set  him  down,  for  the  maiden*s  sake, 

Upon  her  bed,  there  she  lay; 
Courteously  to  her  he  spake. 

For  to  comfort  that  mir  may.* 
In  her  arms  she  gan  him  lake, 

And  thcw  woides  gan  she  say: 
"  ffir,  bot  gif  that  ye  it  make. 

Save  my  life  no  leecJi*  may!" 

"La^,"  he  said,  "thon  matlet;* 

For  me,  (ne  give  thee  nothing  ill!) 
In  mother  stede'  mine  heart  is  set; 

It  is  not  at  mine  owne  wilL 
In  earth  is  nothing  that  shall  mo  let 

To  be  thy  kn%ht,  load  and  stilly 
Another  time  we  may  be  met. 

When  tluB  may  better  speak  tiiy  fiH." 

iMoie.  *CtIbd.  'Tol  *M»iden.  'Doctor.  'Diratj  nA«in.  '««■- 
■  Tlul  if,  "  in  the  aoiae  ot  btXOt,  md  in  the  lilaice  at  peace."  It 
M  to  be  k  boUib  bat  verjr  commoD  ^irue,  genenUr  tued  m  ■  m*S 
M  of  tba  di jBie. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


XBTSrCAL  soK&ircu. 

"  Sidi  I  of  thee  ne  may  have  moie. 

As  thou  art  hardy  knight  and  free', 
In  the  tounument  that  thou  would  bear 
Some  siga  of  mine  that  men  might  aee !" 
"  Lady,  thy  aleeve  thou  shall  off  sheer, 
I  wol  it  take  for  the  love  of  thee ; 
So  did  I  never  no  lady's  ere', 
But  one,  that  most  hath  Ictred  me." 

This  negotiation  being  thus  adjusted,  Lancelot  set  off  in  the 
morning  with  the  young  knight;  who,  on  his  objceting  to 
lodgings  in  the  city  of  Winchester,  where  he  probably  woidd 
hara  been  easily  recognized,  conducted  him  to  the  castle  of  a 
lady,  sister  to  tiie  lord  of  Ascalot,  by  whom  they  were  mag- 
nificently entertained.  The  next  day,  after  the  usual  repast, 
they  put  on  their  armour,  which  was  perfectly  plain,  and 
without  any  device,  as  was  usual  to  youths  during  the  first 
year  of  kmghthood,  their  shields  being  only  painted  red,  as 
aome  colour  was  necessoiy  to  enable  them  to  be  reci^nized  by 
their  attendants.  loncelot  wore  on  his  crest  the  sleeve  of  the 
maid  of  Ascalot,  and  thus  equip;)ed  proceeded  to  the  tourna- 
ment, where  the  knights  were  divided  into  two  companies,  the 
one  commanded  by  Sir  Galehaut,  the  other  hy  King  Arthur. 
Having  surveyed  the  combat  for  a  short  time  irom  without 
the  lists,  and  observed  that  Sir  Galchaut's  party  began  to  give 
way.  they  joined  the  press,  and  attacked  the  ri^al  knights,  the 
yomig  man  choosing  such  adversaries  as  were  suilad  to  his 
strength ;  whilst  his  companion  selected  the  principal  cham' 
pions  of  the  round  table,  and  successively  overthrew  Ywain, 
Bohort,  and  Lyonel.  The  astonishment  of  the  spectatora  was 
extreme, — (or  it  was  thought  that  mi  one  but  Lancelot  could 
poawsB  such  invincible  force, — and  at  the  same  time  the  fovour 
on  his  crest  seemed  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  his  being 
thus  di^uised.  At  length.  Sir  Hector,  Xiancelot's  brother, 
rode  to  attack  the  wonderful  stranger,  and,  after  a  dreadfiil 
<!ombat,  wounded  him  dangerously  in  the  head;  but  was 
himself  completely  stunned  by  a  blow  on  the  helmet,  and 
frUed  to  the  ground,  together  with  his  horse :  afler  \riucli, 
the  conqueror  rode  off  at  fiill  speed,  attended  hy  his  com- 
panion. 

1  NoUe.  ■  Babnu 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


XOSIE  AKiaVK. 


Htiviiig  reached  the  forcrt,  ho  pulled  np  his  ^iror  to  remove 
the  blood,  which  nearly  filled  his  eyes ;  and,  findinjr  himself 
in  great  pain,  readily  consented  to  follow  the  young  knight  to 
the  castle  of  the  nohle  lady  with  whom  they  had  lodged  on 
tiie  preceding  day.  A  ekufid  leech  was  summoned,  who, 
haTiDg  examined  die  wound,  declared  that  long  rest  and  great 
attention  were  necessary  to  his  recorery.  In  the  mean  time 
Arthur  was  so  anxious  to  know  the  name  of  the  victcv,  that 
he  proclaimed  a  second  tournament,  to  be  holdcn  at  the 
expiration  of  a  month,  in  hopes  of  attracting  him  to  Win* 
Chester,  and  thereby  making  the  discovery;  and,  in  &ct,  Sir 
Lancelot,  on  hearing  the  news,  determined,  weak  as  he  was, 
to  re-enter  the  lists :  but  at  his  first  efibrt  to  rise  irom  his  bed 
lus  wonnd  opened ;  be  swooned  from  loss  of  blood ;  and  his 
leech  having  threatened  him  with  certain  death  if  he  should 
rc^)eat  the  attempt,  he  was  condemned  to  lie  still;  whilst 
Arthur,  who  could  obtain  no  news  of  the  unknown  knight, 
returned  unsatisfied  to  Camolot. 

No  sooner  was  Lancelot  able  to  mount  bis  horse  than  bis 
young  friend  caused  him  to  be  conveyed  to  the  castle  of  Asca- 
lot,  where  he  was  attended  with  the  greatest  care  by  the  good 
eari,  by  his  two  sons,  and  above  all  by  his  fair  daughter,  whose 
medical  skill  probably  much  hastened  the  period  of  his  con- 
valescenee.  His  health  was  almost  completely  restored,  when 
Sir  Hector,  Sir  Bohort,  and  Sir  Lyonel,  who,  immediately 
after  the  return  of  the  court  to  Comalot,  had  undertaken  the 
ytuit  of  their  relation,  unexpectedly  discovered  him  walking 
on  the  walls  of  the  castle.  Their  meeting  was  very  joyful ; 
fbr,  though  Arthur's  knights  frequently  took  a  pleasure  in 
secreting  themselves  from  their  friends,  they  were  always 
marvellously  delighted  at  being  found  by  them.  They  passed 
three  days  in  the  castle  amid^  constant  festivities,  and  ban- 
tered eaui  other  on  the  events  of  the  preceding  tournament ; 
Lancelot,  tlunigh  he  began  by  vowing  vengeance  against  the 
author  of  his  wound,  having  ended  by  declaring  it  extremely 
pleasant  to  be  so  forcibly  convinced  of  his  brother's  extraor- 
dinary prowess.  He  then  dismissed  them  with  a  message  to 
the  queen,  promising  to  follow  immediately,  it  being  neccs- 
BaiT  that  he  should  take  a  formal  leave  of  his  kind  hosts,  as 
weU  as  of  the  fair  maid  of  Ascnlot.  Tbt  young  lady,  after 
vainly  attempting  to  detain,  him  \>y  her  teara  and  solicitations, 
nid, 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


158  EASLT   ENOLIBa  KBTBICAZ  KOUAROBS. 

"  Sir,  pi  tiatt  TOUT  wille  it  were, 
Sidi  I  of  Uiee  ne  may  liave  mair. 
Some  tiling  ye  wolde  be-leavei  me  here 
To  look  on,  when  me  longeth  saie!" 

LoncfJot  apoke  widi  herte  free, 

For  to  comfort  that  lady  heitd,' 
"  Mine  annure  ehall  I  leave  with  thee. 

And  in  thy  brother's  will  I  wend. 
Look  then,  ne  long  not  after  me. 

For  here  I  may  no  longer  lend;* 
lious  time  ne  shall  it  nought  be 

That  I  ne  shall  either  twme  or  send." 

In  the  mean  time,  the  three  knights  had  delivered  th«r 
message  to  Quenerer,  who  was  in  paroxysms  of  joy  at  the 
eipected  return  of  her  loyer ;  and  had  then  proceeded  to 
anaomice  to  the  king,  who  was  hunting  with  Gawain,  the 
news  of  their  having  discovered  Sir  Lancelot.  Gawain,  inu 
patient  to  see  him,  immediately  took  leave  of  the  king,  and 
rode  with  all  speed  to  Ascalot:  but  the  knight  was  tdreai^ 
gone.  He  was,  however,  sumptuously  entertained,  and,  in 
answer  to  his  questions,  was  distinctly  informed  by  the  earl's 
daughter,  thi^t  she  hod  bestowed  her  heart  upon  hisfi^end.and 
that  she  had  good  reason  to  flatter  herself  with  being  the  1a^ 
of  his  affections  ;  as  a  pledge  of  which  he  had  left  with  h^ 
his  well-known  suit  of  armour.  Gawain,  though  at  first  in- 
creduloiu,  could  not  resist  this  apparently  decisive  testimony; 
and,  after  rcq'iesting  the  maiden  that  he  also  might,  for  Lan- 
celot's soke,  have  the  honour  of  being  admitted  amongst  her 
knights,  took  his  leave,  and  returned  to  court. 

Several  days  passed  away,  during  which  the  absent  knight 
was  most  anxiously  expected :  yet  he  did  not  appear ;  and  his 
return  was  so  long  protracted,  that  Arthur  bcDian  to  cxptess 
the  utmost  fear  for  his  safety, — insisting  that,  if  his  wouuds 
had  not  opened  afresh,  it  xroi  impossible  that  he  should  so 
long  delay  the  execution  of  his  promise.  Gaiv'oin  rcjtlied  by 
expatiating  on  the  charms  of  the  maid  of  Ascalot ;  related  tlu! 
story  whic^  had  been  confided  to  him ;  and  observed,  that 
eoi^  an  adventure  would  be  a  legitimate  excuse  for  a  mudi 

'  Lwve.  ■  GcBlle.  •  IWiy. 

D,j„..;uL,  Google 


HOBS'!  AXXHDfi.  169 

longer  Bbeenoe.  Tbia  oonTemtiim,  whicli  took  place  in  the 
{neamoe  of  Ouenever,  sunk  deep  into  her  heart ;  she  retired 
to  ber  chamber ;  abandoned  herself  to  the  most  violent  trans- 
ports of  jealousy;  and  secluded  froin  all  but  her  confidential 
attendants,  left  King  Arthur  and  his  conrtios  to  amuse  theni' 
aelvee  witbout  her ;  which  they  were  bo  little  able  to  do,  that 
the  court  became  the  abode  of  fixed  dolnese  and  melancholy. 
Idncelot  was,  during  all  this  time,  very  uimecessarUy  leading 
a  life  of  solitude  at  a  hermitage  in  the  forest ;  where  being 
accidentally  found  at  last  by  He<!tor  and  Lyonel,  be  heard  aS 
the  Bb^nge  conjectuies  to  which  his  abeenoe  had  given  rise, 
M  well  as  the  despair  of  his  disconsolate  mistress,  and  was 
easOy  induced  to  gratify  all  parties  by  his  t«tum. 

Isc  joy  produced  by  his  appearance  was  excessive.  Arthur, 
who  was  sitting  with  Qawain  in  a  watch-tower,  discoraed 
him  at  a  distance  on  the  plain;  ran  out  of  the  gates  to  meet 
him,  at  the  head  of  all  his  knights;  kissed  aqd  embraced  him; 
and  assisted  with  his  own  hands  in  preparing  for  him  a  bed 
(^honour  covered  with  cloth  (f  gold.  All  flowed  round  him, 
anxious  to  render  him  any  service ;  plied  him  with  questions; 
listened  to  his  adventures;  almost  sUfied  him  with  embraces; 
tad  wuted  cm  him  with  such  assiduity,  that  he  could  not, 
dnring  the  first  three  days,  find  a  single  opportuni^  of  seeing 
his  mistress  without  a  crowd  of  witiiesses.  But  the  impor- 
tant occnpation  of  hunting  could  not  be  long  n^lected;  and 
Arthur  living  repaired  to  the  forest  to  piay,  Lancelot,  by 
staying  at  borne  with  Hector  and  Lyonel,  found  at  last  a 
pRtext  for  paying  his  court  to  the  queen.  Ouenever,  feeling, 
c^te  convinced  of  his  infidelity,  thought  herself  fully  justified 
in  reproaching  him  with  bis  passion  for  the  maid  of  Ascalot; 
which,  she  olMerved,  however  justified  by  that  lady's  superitO' 
dianns,  unfortunately  tended  to  lessen  his  reputation,  by 
giving  him  a  disgust  for  those  nobler  pursuits  m  which  his 
eminaice  over  all  the  knights  of  the  world  was  hitherto  so 
wdl  established.  She,  however,  trusted  to  his  honour,  and 
lulled  that  his  new  passion  wonld  never  induce  hini  to  betray 
ibt  intimacy  in  which  he  had  lived  with  one  who,  however 
inferior  to  ner  rival  in  beauty,  had  at  least  proved  the  sin- 
cetity  and  constancy  of  her  afiection.  This  address  was  cer- 
taiidy  intended  to  extort  a  justification,  which  she  ardently 
wished  to  hear;  bat  it  produced  a  oontrary  effect. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


160  SABLT  EVOLISR  KSTXICIL   BOU.UTCES. 

"Madam,"  be  aaid,  "fbr  cron  and  rood. 

What  betokeneth  all  thii  inoaii  ^ 
Bj'  Him  thai  bought  me  with  his  blood. 

Of  these  tidings  know  I  none! 
But,  by  these  vordis,  thinketh  mc 

Away  ye  wolde  that  I  were; 
Now  have  good  day,  my  lady  free. 

For,  Booth,  thou  seest  me  never  mair!" 

With  ibeB6  WOTds  he  rushed  out  of  the  queen's  apartment ; 
hurried  to  his  own;  put  on  a  suit  of  armonr;  mounted  his 
horse;  and,  galloping  off  at  full  speed,  arrived  in  a  few 
minutes  within  the  forest;  whilst  his  friends,  who  heard  a 
little  too  late  the  intelligence  of  his  quarrel  with  the  queen, 
were  unable  to  prevent  his  hasty  depttrture,  and,  after  aq 
ineffectual  pursuit,  in  which  they  tired  their  horses  and  them- 
selves, returned  ftill  of  indignation  against  the  unfortunate 
Ouenever.  Even  Arthur  himself,  who,  when  he  came  from 
hunting,  was  much  disappointed  and  grieved  at  this  second 
loss  of  his  bravest  kn^ht,  would  have  been  much  dispoeed  to 
join  in  their  resentment,  but  that  he  found  his  wife  in  a  state 
of  grief  and  despondency,  which  proved  that  she  was  already 
too  severely  punished  by  the  loss  of  Lancelot,  fbr  any  indis- 
creet language  of  which  she  might  have  been  guilty. 

But  her  misfortunes  were  not  yet  terminated.  A  certain 
squire  ^o  was  in  her  immediate  service,  having  some  cause 
of  dislike  to  Oawsin,  determined  to  destroy  him  by  poison  at 
n  public  entertainment.  For  this  purpose  he  conveyed  the 
poison  into  an  apple  of  remarkable  size,  which  he  placed  on 
the  top  of  several  others,  and  nut  the  dish  before  the  queen, 
hoping  that,  as  Gawain  was  the  knight  whom  she  esteemed 
next  to  Sir  Lancelot,  she  would  make  him  the  fbtal  present. 
But  it  happened  otherwise,  A  Scottish  knight  of  high  dis- 
tinction, happening  to  arrive  on  that  day,  was  seated  on  one 
side  of  the  queen ;  and  to  him,  as  a  stiangcr,  she  presented 
the  apple;  which  he  bad  no  sooner  tasted  than  he  instantly 
expired.  The  whole  court  was,  of  course,  thrown  into  con* 
fusion .'  the  knights  rose  from  tabic,  darting  looks  of  induna- 
tion  at  the  wretched  Gruenever,  whose  tears  and  exclamations 
were  unable  to  exculpate  her  frota  a  crime  apparently  so 
notorious:  tmtclt  and  other  antidotes  were  applied  in  vain; 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


ifOBTS  ASTars.  161 

and  nothing  lemained  bat  to  order  a  mi^nificent  fiinenl  for 
the  murdered  stranger. 

Knightls  done  none  other  might. 

But  buried  him,  vith  dod'  m 
At  a  chapel,  vith  riche  Ug^t, 

In  a  forest  by  a  svongh.* 
A  riche  tomb  they  did  be-dight;> 

A  crafty  clerk  the  letters  drongh,* 
How  there  lay  the  Scottish  knight 

That  queen  Oanore  with  poison  slough.' 
After  this  a  time  befell, 

To  the  court  there  com  a  kniritt. 
His  brother  he  was.  as  I  you  teU, 

And  Sir  Mador  for  sooth  he  bight.* 
He  was  a  handy  man,  and  snell,^ 

In  tournament,  and  eke  in  fight 

Sir  Mador  was,  at  the  time  of  his  arriTal,  perfectly  ignorant 
of  his  brother's  death :  but  haTine  acciaentolly  seen  the 
chapel  while  hunting  in  the  forest,  he  entered  it  to  say  his 
prayers ;  and,  being  attracted  by  the  magnificence  of  a  newly- 
erected  tomb,  perused  the  fatal  inscription,  and  hastily  re- 
tained to  court,  determined  on  immediate  and  signal  ren- 
geance.  He  rode  into  the  hall;  loudly  accused  the  queen  of 
tirason ;  and  insisted  on  her  being  given  up  to  punisbme  nt 
unless  she  should  find,  within  an  appointed  time,  a  knight 
hardy  enough  to  risk  his  life  in  support  of  her  innocence, 
Arthur,  powerAit  as  he  was,  did  not  dare  to  deny  the  appeal, 
but  was  compelled,  with  a  heavy  heart,  to  ratify  the  coudi' 
tions;  and  Mador  sternly  took  his  departure,  leaving  the 
royal  couple  plunged  in  no  small  terror  and  anxiety. 

During  all  this  time  Sir  Lancelot  had  token  up  his  abode 
with  a  hermit  in  the  forest,  and  had  begun  to  find  his  com- 
panion, however  edifying,  much  less  amusing  than  the  beau- 
tifiil  mistress  with  vrhom  he  had  so  perversely  quarrelled, 
when  ibe  sews  of  Sir  Hador's  challenge  fortunately  reached 
his  ears.  He  had  hitherto  lamented,  to  very  little  purpose, 
the  violence  of  his  own  temper,  and  the  jealousy  of  CKienever, 


&  bof,  at  mbe.  *  hnisn.  *  Draw. 

■  Wii  edlsd.  '  Sbtfp;  Ii«aa. 

M 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


162  EABLT  EMOUaS  METBICAI.  BOIfUICKS. 

and  had  cansideTed,  as  ardent  loven  nmially  do,  that  «  ncoo- 
ciliation  was  the  roost  impossible  thing  in  the  wcnid.  Bnt 
this  intelligence  revived  his  Bpirite,  and  he  hcgnn  to  prniarc 
with  the  utmost  cheerAibiera  for  a  contest,  which,  if  its  issne 
should  be  Eucceesfiil,  would  inanre  him  at  once  the  aSbction 
of  his  mistress  and  the  gratitude  of  his  soreireign. 

The  suddenness  of  Sir  Mador's  accusation,  ss  we  have  seen, 
had  left  to  Arthur  very  little  time  for  reflection ;  but  on  the 
foUowing  day  he  took  Sir  Oawain  with  Hjth  into  a  private 
apartment  for  the  purpose  of  diBcussing  aQ  ^bs  circumstances 
cff  this  strange  and  calamitous  adventure.  During  their  con- 
sultation, the  habit  of  curiosity  inherent  in  ail  knights  fre- 
quently drew  thi'in  to  the  window  of  their  tower,  the  walls  of 
which  were  wnshed  by  a  river;  and  on  this  river  they  dea- 
cricd,  with  great  surprise,  a  boat  richly  ornamented,  and 
covered  with  an  awning  of  cloth  of  gold,  which  appeared  to 
be  floating  down  the  stream  widiout  any  hnman  guidance. 
The  subject  of  their  consultation  was,  for  a  while,  forgotten 
ia  their  anxiety  to  examine  this  wonderful  boat,  which  farta- 
nately  drove  to  shore  at  the  same  instant.  They  descended, 
and  entered  it.  Beneath  the  awning  was  a  bed  decked  with 
princely  mapiilicence;  and  on  lifting  up  the  clothes,  they 
oiacovaed  the  dead  body  of  a  beautiful  woman,  in  whose 
features  Oawain  easily  recognised  the  lovely  maid  of  Ascslol. 
Pursuing  their  seardi,  they  discovered  a  purse  richly  em- 
hvoidered  with  gold  and  jewels,  and  within  the  puree  a  letter ; 
which  Arthur  opened,  and  found  addressed  to  himself  and  to 
all  the  knights  of  the  round  table,  stating  that  lAncelot  da 
Lkc,  the  most  accomplished  of  knights,  and  moat  beautifkil  of 
men,  but  at  the  same  time  the  most  boorish  and  inflexiUe, 
had  by  his  rigour  produced  the  death  of  the  wretched  maiden, 
whose  love  was  no  less  invindbte  than  his  cruelty.  The  king 
immediately  gave  orders  for  the  interment  of  the  lady  with 
all  the  honours  suited  to  her  rank ;  at  the  same  tisLe  explaiB- 
ing  to  the  knights,  whom  he  convened  for  the  parpose  o€ 
attending  her  fimeral,  the  history  of  her  afiection  for  Lance- 
lot, vhidi  rendered  her  a  subject  of  common  interest  to  tbew 
all.  Oawain  at  the  same  time  repaired  to  the  queen,  to  afo~ 
login  for  having  inadvertently  oonveyed  to  her  a  &lie  iiqira- 
rion  of  I^iuelot's  fidelity; 


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■OXXC  AXTHITB.  169 

**  Of  Aflofllot  ttut'TmUen  fins 

I  said  you  Bbe  WW  his  lenun;'      /' 
TiiKt  I  so  gabbed'  it  reweth  me,     / 
For  all  thB'Hwth  now  tell  I  cavf 
He  nalde*  her  nong^t,  we  mow^^rell  see; 

Fortby,*  dead  is  tluit  iriiite'tta  fwan; 
This  letter  thereof  ■wnrraat  wol  be : 

She  plaineth  on  Xiuicelot  to  eadt  man." 
Chieneyer  became  iiirious  at  this  intelligence ;  she  felt  that 
all  her  present  misfbrtooes  were  owing  to  her  foolish  quarrel 
with  her  lover, — a  quarrel  occasioned  solely  by  the  sarcaatic 
lemarlu  of  Sir  Oawain;  whom  therefore,  without  listening  to 
hia  exouaes,  ebe  drove  cootumelioualy  from  her  presence.* 

But  as  the  day  {^pointed  by  Sir  Mador  was  &8t  appmach- 
ing,  it  became  necessary  that  she  should  endeavour  to  procnre 
a  champion  for  her  defence;  and,  conducted  by  Arthur,  she 
auoceesively  adjured  Sir  Hector,  Sir  Lyonel,  Sir  Bohort,  and 
even  Sir  Oawain,  to  undertalce  the  battle.  She  fell  on  her 
knees  before  them ;  called  heaven  to  witness  her  innocence  of 
the  crime  alleged  against  her ;  but  was  sternly  answered  bf 
all,  that  they  (»uld  not  undertake  the  battle,  after  having  seen 
with  their  own  eyes  the  sudden  death  of  the  knight  whom  die 
had  maniiJestly  poisoned;  and  umt  she,  whose  violence  and 
injustice  had  driven  from  oonrt  the  incompanble  Sir  Lanoe- 
lot,  did  not  deserve  a  defender.  She  retiivd,  therefore,  de- 
jected and  disconsolate;  but  the  sight  of  the  fotal  pile,  on 
which  if  found  guilty  she  was  docnned  to  be  burned,  exciting 
ha  to  a  fresh  effort,  she  again  repaired  to  Sir  Bohort,  threw 
heraelf  at  his  feet,  and,  piteooriy  crying  on  him  for  meiriy, 
&I1  into  a  Bvwja.  The  bnv«  knight  was  not  proof  against 
thia  appeal  to  his  feelings ;  be  raised  her  up,  and  hastily  pro- 
nised  that  he  would  undsit^e  ho-  cause,  if  no  other  or  better 
1  shonld  ynseat  himself.  He  then  simimoned  his 
I,  and  oonmmueatsd  ts  them  his  reeofaition;  and  m  a 
mortal  combat  with  Sir  Mador  was  a  most  faufiil  enterprise, 
they  agreed  to  accompany  him  in  the  mornii^  to  the  her- 

.>  Hiitraa.    ■  Tklksd  light!]'.     *  Ne  would,  wBald  not     *  Therefore. 

*  A  leaf  of  the  MS.  it  here  tnm  oat;  bat  no  part  of  the  atorj  iiipcas 
to^he  rnwdng;  th«  tinn  whk^  >»  wanting  beriiig  been  pnibabljaa- 
liloyed  parti;  in  Gvenner'i  qaenluiani,  and  paitlj  in  the  aolhorV' 
dncription  ol  thn  daagv  to  wUdk  abe  mi  noir**f«MdL 

m2 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


164  ZAJtLT   EITGLISK  lUTUCAI.  BOKAMCEB. 

mitage  in  the  forest,  iriuax  he  jnopoaed  to  reoeiTe  abeolntion 
from  the  hermit,  and  to  make  hu  peace  with  heaven  before  he 
entoed  the  lists. 

Aa  thev  came  l^  the  forest  side 
llieir  oriflouna  for  to  make. 

The  noblest  knight  then  saw  thej-  ride 
Hut  was  in  earthly  shape. 

Kb  loreine  lemed'  aU  with  pride; 
Steed  and  aimure  all  was  blake; 

His  name  is  nought  to  hele'  and  hide. 
He  hi^t  Sir  Laoncelot  du  Lake. 
Oveijoyed  at  this  meeting,  they  fell  nn  their  knees  and 
retnmed  thanks  to  Providence ;  after  which,  having,  in  answer 
to  Lancelot's  qaestions,  confirmed  the  news  of  the  queen'a 
imminent  danger,  they  received  his  instractionB  to  return  to 
court,  to  comfort  her  as  well  as  they  could, — bnt  to  conceal 
his  intention  of  ondertaking  her  defence,  which  he  meant  to 
do  in  the  character  of  an  onknown  adventnr«r. 

On  their  return  to  the  castle,  they  fonnd  that  mass  was 
fanisbed,  and  had  scarcely  time  to  speak  to  the  queen  before 
they  were  summoned  into  the  haU  to  dinner.  A  geneial 
doom  was  spread  over  the  countenances  of  all  the  guests; 
Arthur  Jiimw If  was  unable  to  conceal  his  dejection;  and  the 
wretched  Ouenerer,  mofjonleas  and  bathed  in  tears,  sat  in 
tfMnbling  expectation  of  Sir  Mador's  appearance.  Nor  vras  it 
long  ere  ne  stalked  into  the  haU,  and,  with  a  voice  of  thunder, 
rendered  more  im|n«8aive  1^  the  general  silence,  demanded 
instant  justice  on  his  victim;  threatening  that,  if  it  were 
deUred,  he  would  himself  tear  her  from  uem  and  sacrifice 
her  Ikefbre  their  eyes.  Arthur  meekly  answered,  that  little  at 
the  day  was  yet  spent;  that  dinner  was  not  over;  and,  that 
pcriiape  a  chunpion  mijdit  yet  be  found  capable  of  satu^'iiig 
his  impatiotoe  far  batue.  Sir  Btdtort  now  mae  from  taUe, 
klter  eastiiig  a  ngniiicaat  kx^  oit  Sir  Lytrnd,  and  shortly  lo- 
tnming  in  ocnnplete  aimoor,  resumed  his  place,  after  receiving 
the  embracea  and  titanks  <d  Artiiur,  nho  now  b^an  to  resnnte 
■oatB  degree  of  eonfidatce.  Bnt  Sir  Hadw,  growing  evety 
■Mnent  man  inqwlient,  again  rqieated  his  damndattma  M 
naffenae,  and  inajsted  that  the  ccanhat  should  iDstantity  take 


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XOBTB  ASTHITB.  165 

Tlien,  B8  Sir  Hodor  loodest  spake. 

The  queen  of  treason  to  by-cal^* 
Comjs  Sir  Lanncelot  dn  I^ke, 

Ridand  right  into  the  hall. 
His  Hteed  and  aimnie  all  wrb  blake, 

His  visere  over  bis  eyea  fidle; 
Many  a  man  be^an  to  quake; 

A-dread  of  bun  nigh  vere  they  alL 
llieti  spake  the  king,  mickle  <rf  might. 

That  hende  was  in  eche  a  sithe* 
"  Sir,  is  it  your  mD  to  light? 

Eat  and  drink  and  make  you  blithe." 
Launcelot  spake  as  a  strange  knizht, 
"  Nay,  air!"  he  said,  "as  swytoe' 
I  herde  tell  here  of  a  fight. 
I  come  to  eaye  a  lady's  li&. 
"  £\-il  hath  the  queen  by-set  her  deeds. 

That  she  batit  worshiped  many  a  knight, 
And  she  hath  no  man,  in  her  needs. 
That  for  her  life  dare  take  a  GAt\ 
Thou,  that  her  of  treason  gredee. 

Hastily  that  thou  be  dight! 
Out  of  thy  wits  though  that  thou  yede,* 
To  day  ehalt  thou  prove  all  thy  might!" 
Sir  Hador,  though  somewhat  surprised,  was  not  appalled 
br  the  stero  challenge  and  still  more  formidable  appearance 
of  his  mighty  antt^nist,  but  instantly  and  cheenully  pre- 
pared for  the  encounter.     At  the  first  shock,  both  were  on- 
horsed.      They  then  drew  their  swords,  and  commenced  a 
combat  which  lasted  from  noon  to  till  evening;  when  Sir 
Mador,  whose  strength  began  fail,  was  at  length  felled  to 
the  ground  by  Sir  Lancelot,  and  compelled  to  sue  fbr  meny. 
The  victor,  whose  arm  was  again  raised  to  terminate  the  ufo 
of  his  opponent,  instantly  dropped  his  sword,  courteonriy 
lifted  up  the  fainting  Sir  Madoc,  and  even  condescended  so 
reveal  his  name,  &ankly  confessing  that  he  had  n 


yet  found  an  equally  formidable  enemy.     The  other,  with 
similar  courtesy,  aolrannly  renounced  aU  further  projects  ot 

1. 1.,  immedistelf . 

Weat. 

j„..;^L,  Cookie 


>  Accose.         ■  At  ill  tiniei. 

'  Ito  ety,  or  [Hxxiliilm.  >  Weat. 


166  E&BI.Y  EKGIiIBH  KXT&ICAX  KOKXHOES. 

rengeance  for  liia  bro&er'a  deatli ;  and  the  two  knights,  dow 
become  fiist  frienda,  embraced  each  other  with  the  greatest 
cordiality.  In  the  mean  time  Arthur,  having  recogmged  Sir 
lADcelot,  whose  helmet  was  lutw  milaced,  nnhed  down  into 
(he  lists,  fbUowed  by  all  his  knights,  to  welcome  and  thank 
his  deliverer;  Guenever  swooned  with  joy;  and  the  place  of 
combat  suddenly  exhibited  a  scene  of  the  most  tumultuous 
delight.  The  geneivl  satisfaction  waa  still  further  increased 
by  the  discovery  of  the  real  culprit,  whose  attempt  to  poison 
Sir  Qawain  had  been  productive  of  such  extensive  misery. 
Having  accidentally  incurred  some  su^citm,  he  confessed  lua 
crime,  and  was  publicly  punished  in  the  presence  of  Sir 
Mador;  who,  seeing  the  queen  so  fully  justified,  became 
anxious  to  make  her  amende,  by  every  service  and  attention 
in  his  power,  for  the  injustice  of  his  former  accusation.  The 
court  now  returned  to  the  castle,  which,  with  the  title  of  "  la 
joyeuse  garde,"  bestowed  on  it  perhaps  in  consequence  of  the 
festivities  cdebrated  in  honour  of  ^e  queen's  exculpation, 
was  GonftfTed  on  Sir  Lancelot  by  Arthur,  as  a  memorial  of 
his  gratitude. 

The  happiness  and  security  of  Guenever,  and  of  her  para- 
mour, now  appeared  to  be  permanently  established;  but  a 
plot  was  already  laid,  which  was  destined  to  destroy  them, 
together  with  the  king  and  kingdom.  Though  Gawain  was 
warmly  attached  to  Sir  Lancelot,  his  brother  Agravain  had 
baen,  from  the  first,  the  envious  and  impkcable  enemy  of 
that  knight;  and,  having  united  himself  with  Modred,  the 
king's  nephew,  who  headed  a  considerable  party  at  court, 
det^mined  on  preferring  against  the  lovers  an  open  accusa- 
tion  of  treason.  It  was  in  vain  that  Gawain  exerted  all  h» 
ehMnieuoe  to  oppose  a  measure  of  which  be  foretold  all  tbe 
fatal  oonsequencea,  and  implored  bis  brother  to  desist,  on 
the  ground  of  the  long  and  sincere  friendship  which  had  sub- 
sisted between  him  and  Lancelot.  Agravain  was  inflexible; 
and  Ardiur  having  entered  the  hall  and  demanded  the  cause 
of  this  violent  altercation.  Sir  Gawain  retired  with  bis  bro- 
then  Gaberiet  and  Oneheies,  that  be  might  not  become  an 
accomplice  in  the  action  which  be  so  strongly  disapproved. 

Arthnr,  who  had  hitherto  been  free  from  suspicion,  wM 
equally  aatonished  and  distressed  at  hearing  that  tbe  cham- 
pion of  his  thrcme  was  his  wwst  enemy,  and  at  reading  in 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


KOBTB  ASTHTK.  10? 

the  eyes  of  the  whole  assembly  the  troth  snd  notoriety  of  iba 
accnsBtion.  But  however  sbY)ng;ly  he  Salt  the  wish,  he  was 
niuble  to  deriae  tbe  means  of  TGngeance,  irtiioh  were  thus 
so^ested  t^  ^  AgntTOin: 

"  Sir,  ye,  and  aU  the  court  bydene,' 

Wendeth  tomoirow  an-hnnting  nght; 
.And  nthen,  send  word  to  the  queen, 

llmt  ye  will  dwell  without  all  night. 
And  I,  and  other  twelve  knights  keen, 

Pull  priTily  we  shall  us  dight; 
We  shall  him  have,  wiAouten  ween,* 
Tomorrow,  i^  any  day  be  light." 
Hub  txeBcberouB  project  was  immediately  carried  into  exe- 
cntion.  Ooenerer,  perfectly  off  her  guu^  sent  tht  usnal 
summons  to  Sir  Lancelot ;  and  the  knight,  though  warned  by 
Sir  Bohort  and  other  friends  to  beware  of  Agravain,  could  not 
re&ain  from  accepting  so  pleasing  an  invitation;  nor  could 
he  be  persuaded  to  carry,  to  such  a  meeting,  the  apparently 
useless  incombrance  of  a  E^hield  and  coat  of  mail.  He,  how- 
ever,  took  his  sword,  which  he  concealed  under  his  night- 
gown, and  arrired,  apparently  undiscovered,  at  the  queen's 
apartment :  but  scarcely  was  he  locked  in  the  embraces  of  his 
mistiees,  when  he  heard  at  the  door  the  voices  of  Sir  Agra- 
Tain  and  Sir  Modred;  who  loudly  accusing  him  of  treason, 
tauntingly  added,  that  the  means  of  escape  were  now  efibc- 
tnally  prevented.  Ouenerer  was  half  d^d  with  apprehen- 
sion; but  Lancelot,  finding  his  situation  so  desperate,  started 
from  the  bed,  enveloped  his  left  arm  in  his  gown,  seized  his 
sword  in  his  right,  suddenly  set  open  the  door;  and,  when 
one  only  of  his  advcnariee  had  rushed  in,  as  suddenly  dosed 
it.  The  armed  knight  advanced  against  him  as  to  an  easy 
victiiiy,  but  at  the  first  blow  fell  lifeless  at  his  feet. 
The  knight  that  Launcelot  has  slain, 

His  armure  found  he  &ir  and  bright; 
Bastily  he  hath  them  off  drayne,' 
And  therein  himselfe  dight. 
"  Now  know  thou  well.  Sir  Agrawayne, 
Thou  prisons  me  no  more  to-night!" 

>  BirUiwUh.  ■  Withont  donU.  Drawn. 


..Cookie 


168  EABLY   EKGLIBH  ICETBIGA£  BOKAlTCESt 

Oat  then  sprang  be  with  mickle  mam, 
Huotelf  ayenrt  tLem  all  to  £^t. 
Hie  battle  vas  now  quickly  decided.  Tlie  trescbcroos 
Agravaia  was  the  first  victim;  hia  ten  companions  soon  fell 
aroand  him;  and  Sir  Modred,  escaping  in  time,  ran  off  to  the 
king  with  the  news  of  the  ill  success  which  had  attended  their 
stratagem.  I^mcelot  hastened  to  Sir  Bi^ort,  related  his  ad- 
TKitore,  spent  the  remiainder  of  the  night  in  assembling  and 
arming  all  his  friends;  and  at  daybreak  put  himsetf  at  their 
head,  and  manibed  into  the  forest,  after  leaying  a  certain 
number  of  spies  to  bring  hitn  intelligence  of  the  measures 
which  should  be  adopted  during  his  ahSence. 

Ihough  Lancelot  had  thus  escaped,  the  queen  still  remained 
in  the  king's  power;  and  as  her  guilt  was  notorious,  his 
council  unanimously  doomed  her  to  tne  flames. 
Ihe  fire  then  made  they  in  the  felde; 
Therto  they  bnraght  that  lady  free; 
All  that  erer  might  weap<m  welde, 

About  her  armed  for  to  be, 
Oawain,  that  stiff'  was  under  ahelde,  . 

Gaherict  ne  Gueheres  ne  would  not  see; 
In  their  chamber  they  them  held; 

Of  her  they  hodde  grete  pit^. 
The  King  Arthur,  like  ilke  tide, 

Gawain  and  Gueheres  fbr-sent; 
Their  answers  were,  nought  for  to  hide, 

Ihey  nolde  be  of  his  assent; 
Oawain  would  never  be  beside. 

There  any  woman  should  be  brent.* 
Gaheriet  and  Ciuehei«B,  with  little  pride. 
All  unharmed  thither  they  went. 
Lancelot,  as  might  be  eipected,  having  received  timely 
intelligence  of  this  event,  determined  to  rescue  his  mistress; 
attacked  the  escort;  carried  her  off,  and  put  all  his  enemies 
to  the  sword.     Unfortunately,  Gawaiu's  brotbcrs,  who  had 
disdained  to  bear  arms  on  such  an  occasion,  and  were  conse- 
quently quite  defenceless,  were  involved  in  the  indiscriminate 

At  the  news  of  this  slaughter,  the  mind  of  Arthur  was 
'  Strong.  *  Burnt. 


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HOSTS  ABTHtTK. 


been  zuided  only  by  bis  comptunon  for  the  queen  and  friend- 
ebip  for  Lancelot,  now  gave  himself  up  to  aentimentB  of  deadly 
hatocd  and  reren^  against  the  authore  of  this  outrage. 
Rushing  into  the  room  where  his  murdered  brothers  were 
deposited,  be  threw  himself  on  their  bodies,  and  solemnly 
swore  that  no  peace  or  truce  should  erer  take  place  between 
him  and  Lancelot,  until  that  innocent  blood  should  be  ex- 
piated by  the  death  of  his  enemy  or  by  bis  own.  In  tlie 
mean  timo  that  enemy  was  scarcely  more  at  his  ease,  being 
well  acquainted  with  the  noble  and  manly  but  implacable 
mind  of  Sir  Qawain,  whom  he  bad  irreparably  though  unin- 
tentionally injured,  and  therefore  aware  of  the  &tal  ctmae* 
quences  tiiat  must  ensue.  But  the  die  was  now  cast.  He 
retired  to  his  strong  castle  of  lajoyeiue  gardt,  and,  dispetch- 
ing  messengerB  in  all  directions,  soon  collected  a  large  and 
wdl-sppointed  army;  while  Arthur  on  his  part  sent  to  collect 
aD  his  vassals,  and  prepared  to  shed  the  best  blood  of  the 
country  in  the  prosecution  of  this  unfortunate  and  unnatural 
warfive. 

Sir  Lancelot,  who,  though  perfectly  confident  in  the 
stien^th  of  his  troops,  was  stiU  desirous  of  prereating  the 
efiWon  of  blood,  determined  to  make  a  last  enbrt  for  peace, 
and  to  dispatch  a  dunsel  to  the  royal  camp,  to  declare  "  that 
the  accusation  of  Agravain  was  felse,  and  that  he  was  ready 
to  maintain  this  assertion  against  all  who  might  gainsay  it." 
The  maiden  is  ready  for  to  ride. 

In  a  full  rich  aparaylment. 
Of  samyte'  green,  wim  mickle  pride. 

That  wrought  us  in  the  orient,* 
A  dwarf  shall  wende  by  her  side; 

Such  was  Lanncelot's  commaundement. 
So  were  the  manners  in  that  tide. 

When  a  maid  on  message  went. 
This  embassy,  however,  was  rejected  with  disdain;  and  the 
kii^,  having  collected  all  his  forces,  marched  to  the  castle  of  la 
Joifeute  garae,  which  he  blockaded  on  all  sides.     The  strength 
A  ridi  nlkcn  itoff. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


170  EABLT   EITGLIBK  ICXTKICAi  SOUAUCSS. 

of  the  w^lfl  and  of  the  garrismi  piediided  the  poBSibilily  of 
an  aatault;  but  during  seventeen  weeka  of  oseleBs  siege,  the 
kii^  and  Sir  Gawais  daily  advanced  to  the  walls,  accusing  Sir 
hmxiot  of  treason  and  cowardice,  and  defying  him  to  a  trial 
of  strength  in  the  field;  whilst  tlut  knigfat  c^mly  answered, 
durt  they  would  better  show  their  wisdom  by  reliiiquiBhing  a 
frniUen  attempt,  and  by  sparing  the  many  bntre  men  on  both 
■idM,  who  were  perfectly  iminterested  in  the  qnairel.  But 
Bah<nl  and  Lyonel  were  less  tolerant  than  their  commander, 
and  at  theii  entreaty  he  was  at  length  bnmght  to  accept  the 
often  repeated  challenge.  A  dreadAil  battle  ensued,  in  which 
nnmbera  were  slain  on  both  sides ;  and  Sir  Lionel  was  un- 
hnned  and  dangerously  wounded  by  Oawain;  while  Lancelot, 
overthrowing  Hi  who  opposed  him,  seemed  to  ride  through 
the  ranks  for  the  sole  purpose  of  separating  the  moat  obstinate 
oonhalanls,  and  of  stopping  the  general  carnage. 
The  king  was  ever  near  beside, 

And  hewe  on  him  with  all  his  mayn. 
And  he  so  courteous  was  that  tide,' 
O'  dint  that  he  nolde  smite  again. 
BcAort  de  Gannes  saught  at  last, 

And  to  the  king  then  gan  he  ride; 
And  on  his  helm  he  hit  so  fast 

Tltat  near  he  lost  all  his  pride. 
The  Btede's  ri^e  under  him  biast,* 
That  he  to  ground  fell  that  tide ; 
And  sith  then  wordys  loud  he  cast 
With  Sir  Lamicelot  to  chide. 
"  Sir,  dialtow  *  all  day  suffer  so 
That  the  king  shall  thee  assail  ? 
And  aith  his  herte  is  so  thro,* 

Thy  courtesy  may  not  avail? 
Bataillee  shal  there  never  be  mo,^ 

An  thou  wilt  do  by  my  counsul; 
Giveth  us  leave  them  all  to  slo. 

For  thou  hast  vanquished  this  bataillel" 
"  Alas,"  quod  Launcelot,  "  wo  is  me. 
That  ever  should  I  see  with  sight, 
1  Tlwt  time.      ■  One.      ■  The  hone'i  becV  broke  oc  bunt  under  Un. 
«  Shalt  fban.  '  Eiger,  A.  S. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


nous  Asitnu.  171 

Befin«  me  him  onhoraed  be, 

The  noble  king  that  made  me  knig^tl" 
He  y&B  then  «o  oonrteoos  and  free. 

That  down  off  his  etede  he  li^t;' 
The  king  tiiereon  then  borsee  he. 

And  bade  him  flee,  gif  that  he  might. 
When  the  king  vae  horaed  thore, 

Lanncelot  lookyg  he  upon. 
How  courtesy  was  in  him  more 

Than  ever  waa  in  any  mon. 
He  thought  mi  things  that  had  been  ore,' 

Tlie  tears  from  his  eyen  nm ; 
He  said,  "Alas,"  with  si^ng  sore, 
"  That  ever  yet  this  war  began !" 
Hie  battle,  howerer,  still  continued,  tiD  both  parties  weie 
compelled  by  lassitude  and  by  the  approach  of  nigfat  to  'wiA- 
diaw:  and  such  was  the  rancour  of  Arthur,  that  the  contest 
was  renewed  on  the  following  day ;  when  the  ricto^,  efiet 
much  bloodshed,  beii^  gained  by  &r  Lanoelot,  and  Oawain 
and  Sir  Bc^ort,  who  had  engaged  in  single  combat,  being 
both  wounded,  the  siege  was  at  length  abandmed,  and  Arthur 
retired  to  make  fresh  preparations. 

Such  was,  it  scenm,  the  celebritT  of  this  war,  diat  it  ulti- 
mately reaohed  tfae  ears  of  the  Pope;  and  the  bishop  of 
Bochester,  being  then  at  Rome,  reoeiTed  the  commands  of 
his  holiness  to  repair  to  Arthur  and  to  I^moelot.  with  direc- 
ticms  tliat  the  latter  should  consent  to  restore  the  queen,  that 
■Qx  tartaer  should  receive  her  into  favour,  and  that  in  case  of 
dteir  non-ccmpliance  the  whole  kingdom  should  be  laid  under 
&e  papol  interdict.  Both  parties  professed  equal  submiesioii 
to  tae  injunctions  of  their  spiritual  father ;  and  the  only  con- 
ditione  required  b^  Sir  Lanoelot  were,  that  the  l»shop  should 
solemnly  pledge  himself  6)t  the  queen's  safety,  and  procure  a 
nfe-conduct  for  him  to  the  king,  that  he  might  lead  her  to 
eonrt  with  due  ceremony,  and  see  her  reinstated  in  all  her 
fivmer  bononrs.  These  terms  were  readily  conceded  bf 
Ardnir,  and  an  early  day  was  appointed  for  the  procession. 
Lanncelot  and  the  queen  were  cledds 
In  robes  of  a  rich  wedc, 
I  AU^ted.  ■  For  ■«,{.«.  before;  tliore  iDr  flwra> 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


173  BASI.T  ElTGLiaU  HBTBICAI.  SOHUfOW. 

Of  san^  white,  with  rilver  ahredde, 

iTory  nddle,  and  white  stede; 
S&umbuea '  of  tLe  same  tiiredde, 

lluit  wrought  was  in  the  heftthm  tineSe,' 
LauDcelot  her  bridle  ledde. 

In  the  BomanB  ae  we  rede.' 
The  other  knights,  everichone. 

In  eamyte  green  of  heathen  land. 
And  their  kirtles,  ride  alone; 

And  each  knight  a  green  garland; 
Saddles  set  with,  rich  stone; 

Each  one  a  bmnch  of  olive  in  hand. 
All  the  field  about  hem  shone; 

Ibe  knightes  rode  full  loud  nngand. 

Sir  I^ncelot,  having  formally  reBtored  die  queen,  attempted 

to  exculpate  both  her  and  himself;  but  Arthur,  as  might  be 

supposed,  waa  more  o^nded  than  softened  by  such  a  justifi- 

Then  bespake  him  Sir  Qawun, 
That  was  hardj  kni^t  and  free, 
"  Launoelot,  thou  may  it  nought  with-sayn. 
That  thou  hast  slain  my  brethren  three! 
Forthy,  shall  we  prore  our  main, 

In  field,  whether  shall  have  the  gne.* 
Or*  either  of  us  shall  other  slayn. 
Blithe  shall  1  aerer  be!" 
Lancelot,  having  vainly  urged  in  reply,  that  Agravain  h&d 
fhUen  the  victim  of  his  own  treachery,  and  that  the  other 
brothers  had  owed  their  death  to  an  unfortunate  accident, 
and  by  no  means  to  his  orders,  again  addressed  himself  to  the 
king,  and  inquired  whether  he  was  now  to  consider  all  hopes 
of  an  accommodation  as  absolutely  desperate?  Arthur  replied 
in  the  affirmative.     He  then  asked,  whether,  on  his  promise 
to  renounce  immediately  his  English  poesessions,  to  retire 
into  Britany,  and  never  more  to  return,  he  might  be  assured 
<tf  a  safe  conduct,  and  of  being  left  in  the  tranquil  poesesaian 
of  his  foreign  dominions;  ai^  was  told  that  nis  departure. 
■  Saddlc-clatht.    'I^nd,  natiaa,  A.  S.    ■  Ttu  tenn  Ssnunum  unilM 
to  algnifj  llie  Frendi  kngoige,  in  which  moit  of  the  old 
origmsll;  writtan.    *  Dcjtne;  the  piiw.     *  Era,  mttL 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


KOBTZ  ABTHUB.  173 

Bhould  be  anmolested :  but  Oawam  added,  that  he  would  do 
wdl  to  prepare  all  hia  meana  of  defence,  ait  the  rt^al  Mnof 
ma  already'  as«embliiig,  and  would  speedily  be  embarked  to 
nttack  him  is  iaa  own  territory. 

Lancelot,  afler  tiiis  unsuccessful  conference,  retired  to  his 
caatle,  assembled  bis  moat  zealous  fircnda ;  marched  them  to 
Caerieon,  and  embarked  fbr  Britony,  where  he  was  received 
with  enthusiasm  by  his  long-n^lected  sabjectfi.  He  began 
by  rewarding  the  serriccs  of  those  who  had  constantly  ftH- 
lowed  his  fortunes ;  be  invested  Sir  Bobort  with  the  kingdom 
of'Oannes;  bestowed  on  Ljronel  tiie  crown  of  France,  &>t- 
merly  called  Qaul ;  on  Hector  des  Marais  the  sovereignty  of 
his  own  dominions;  and  divided  amongst  his  other  friends 
the  whole  of  the  lands  at  bis  disposal,  reserving  to  hinaelf 
littlo-  more  than  the  strong  city  and  castle  of  Benwick,  which 
he  plentifully  supplied  witli  provisions,  and  secured  by  a 
select  and  numerous  garrison. 

In  the  mean  time  King  Arthur,  fully  aware  of  the  import- 
ance and  danger  of  the  enterprise  which  he  waa  about  to 
undertake,  convened  his  council,  and  represented  to  them  the 
necessi^  of  choosing  a  viceroy  to  govern  bis  dominions 
during  his  absence ;  and  the  unanimous  choice  of  his  barons 
having  fidlen  on  his  nephew  Modred,  he  wiDinglv  confirmed 
their  nomination,  marahaUed  hie  army,  and  embarked  in  ptir- 
init  of  hie  enemy.  After  a  prosperous  vimge  he  landed  bn 
the  coast  of  Britanv ;  wasted  the  ooimtiT  dunng  hia  progress 
with  fire  and  sword;  and,  learning  that  Sir  I^noelot  had  aliiit 
himself  up  in  his  capital,  finally  encamped  hie-amy  at  ft  short 
distance  from  the  city. 

.  I^neelot  now  called  a  council  of  war  to  ddiberate  od  his 
fbtore  openttionB.  Sir  Bohort,  Sir  Oalahad,  aiul  Sir  Brade- 
magus  advised  an  immediate  attack  on  the  enemy  in  the  open 
field ;  Sir  Lyonel  recommended  a  defensive  war ;  and  Lance- 
lot  himself  not  only  supported  the  latter  opinion,  but  even 
imposed  to  send  a  new  embassy  to  Arthur,  with  suoh  propo- 
sala  OS  he  oould  not,  in  common  justice,  venture  to  reject. 

The  maid  was  &I1  sheen*  to  shew. 
Upon  ber  steed  when  she  waa  set ; 

Her  parayl*  all  of  one  hue. 
Of  a  green  Telvet ; 


uL,  Google 


174  IU.BI.T  EiraLISK  XKTKIOAX   BOIIAlTCBa. 

In  her  hand  a  branch  new. 

For  why  that  no  man  ahould  her  let; 
lliereby  men  meaaeng^era  knew, 

In  oet«s'  when  that  men  them  meL 
The  king  was  locked  in  a  £eld 

By  a  river  broad  and  dreghe*; 
A  while  she  hoved*  and  beheld ; 

Pavilyons  were  pight'  on  high ; 
She  saw  there  many  comely  teld,' 

With  pommellea'  bright  as  goldis  b^he;T 
On  one  byng*  the  kingis  ahicld ; 

That  pavyloun  she  drew  her  nigh. 

Being  accosted  by  Sir  Lucan  the  boteler,>  she  was  intro- 
duced into  the  great  hall  of  the  royal  tent,  where  Arthur  was 
seated  with  Sir  Oawain,  and  falling  on  her  knees  deliTcred 
her  credentials.  She  then  explained,  verbally,  the  temts 
which  she  was  ordered  to  propose,  vis.  "  that  a  trace  should 
be  concluded  for  twelve  months,  during  which  the  contending' 
parties  ^ould  arrange  the  conditions  of  a  definitive  peace;  on 
the  concluaion  of  which,  Lancelot  promised  to  repair  to  the 
Holy  Land,  and  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  acts  of 


Arthur  summoned  all  his  barons  to  deliberate  on  these  pro- 
posals, which  he  was  personally  desirous  of  accepting,  and 
which  they  unanimonsly  cancuired  in  approving ;  bnt  tke  im- 
placable Sir  Gawain  sternly  declared,  that,  "  whilst  the  blood 
of  his  brethren  was  unatoned,  he  was  detenmned  to  listm  to 
no  accommodation :  that,  if  the  king  thon^t  fit  to  retire,  he 
wonld  singly  prosecute  the  quarrel,  wit£  the  aid  of  sucb 
friends  as  might  be  induced  to  follow  him ;  but,  that  ibe  Hag 
would  do  well  to  reoollect  that  the  oanae  in  which  Agravain 
had  fallen  a  sacrifice  was  personal  to  his  majesty ;  and  that 
the  other  brothers  had  been  murdraed  in  conseqaenoe  of  their 
(diedience  to  the  loynl  mandate,  on  an  ocoasioD  wfaitA  they 
ntteriy  diaiqipTOved."  Arthur  oonld  not  withstand  these 
ar^iments.  The  messenger  was  dismissed;  the  proposals 
rejected ;  and  both  parties  prepared  for  a  mr  of  exteimina- 
txoa 


uL,  Cookie 


Me 


KOBIE  ASTHUS.  175 

QawEtm  was  perfectly  aware  that  nothing  wu  to  be  hoped 
from  aa  assault,  and  that  the  city,  if  reducible  at  all,  could 
only  be  taken  by  famine ;  but,  at  least,  he  could  gratiQr  hia 
resentment  by  ^lily  insulting  his  enemy :  and  so  grating  were 
these  insults,  that,  though  tht^  could  aot  overcome  the 
patience  of  Sir  Lancelot,  they  daily  brought  forward  the  bold- 
est of  his  champions.  These  succeeeiTeiy  engaged  in  (dogle 
combat  with  their  pertinacious  and  provoking  assailant,  and 
were  successively  overthrown,  and  many  of  them  grievously 
wounded,  by  the  superiority  of  his  skill  and  streugth ;  whilst 
such  were  his  gract  and  good  fortune,  that  during  six  months 
he  constantly  escaped  ui^urt  from  these  encounters.  But  his 
soul  thirsted  for  the  blood  of  Sir  Iioncelot ;  and  this  patient 
adversary  was  at  Iraigth  compelled  in  honour  to  accept  the 
challeiige. 

Hie  Ic^  that  great  was  of  honour. 
Himself  Sir  Lauucelot  du  Lake, 
Above  the  gates,  upon  the  tower. 
Comely  to  the  kuig  he  spake : 
"y  lord,  Ood  save  your  honour! 
w,  for  your  sake. 
Against  thy  kin  to  stand  in  atour' : 
But  needs  I  must  this  battle  take." 
We  have  already  seen  that  Sir  Oawain,  though  always  suf' 
liciently  formidable,  possessed,  by  the  benediction  of  heaven, 
the  peculiar  privilege  of  becoming  douUy  sbong  from  trnder- 
tiitu  (nine  o'clock  in  the  morning)  till  noon ;  and  of  this 
pecnliarity  Sir  Lancelot  was  well  aware.   He  therefore  exerted 
his  utmost  skill  in  parrying  the  blows  of  hia  adversary,  till  be 
was  compelled,  by  a  necessary  regard  for  his  own  ^ety,  to 
seise  as  advantage  offered  by  (Swain's  inconsiderate  fny, 
and  to  employ  his  whole  strength  in  a  blow  which  texminated 
the  contest. 

'Hmni^  the  htha,  into  the  heved. 

Was  haidy  G&wsin  wonnded  so, 

Diat  nnnrihe*  wms  him  life  leaved; 

On  foot  might  he  no  brther  go. 

Bnt  wigfatly  lua  sword  about  be  wand, 

I'or  ercr  he  wu  both  keen  and  thro*. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BABLY  XK0LI8H  lEETBICAX   SOIUJTOU. 


LAoncelot  then  drew  on  diyhe,' 

Hie  sword  VBS  in  his  hand  drawn; 
And  Sir  Gawain  loud  gan  err, 
"  Traitoor  and  cowan^  come  again ! 
'When  I  am  whole,  and  going  on  hie, 

Hien  irill  I  prove,  wiUi  might  and  main ; 
Anret,  an  tbou  wouldest  ni^  me  nigh, 
Tdou  shalt  well  wete  I  am  not  stain!" 
"  Oawain,  while  thou  might  stifBy  stand, 
Many  a  stroke  of  thee  I  stood; 
'And  I  forbare  thee,  in  every  land. 

For  loTE,  and  for  the  kin^iiB  blood. 
"When  thou  art  whole,  in  heart  and  hand, 

I  rede'  thee,  turn   and  chunge  thy  mood ! 
While  I  am  Launcelot,  and  man  livond, 
God  shielde  me  from  workes  wode  !' 
"  But  have  good  day,  my  lord  the  king. 
And  your  daoffity  knightes  all ! 
Wcndeu  home,  and  leave  youi  waning; 

Ye  win  no  worahip  at  tlus  wall! 
An  I  would  my  knights  out  bring, 

I  wot  full  sure  rue  it  ye  shall ; 
My  lord,  therefore  think  on  such  thing. 
How  felc  folk  therefore  might  &11." 
With  these  words,  Idncelot  calmly  retired  into  the  city ; 
while  Gawain  was  conveyed  to  his  tent,  and  consigned  to  tiie 
care  of  the  king's  physicians. 

llie  wound  was  so  severe,  that  during  the  fint  fortnight 
his  recovery  was  very  doubtful :  at  lenetii,  however,  he  was 
reatored  to  health,  and  with  it  to  bis  implacable  desire  of 
vengeance.  A  second  time  he  farced  Lancelot  into  the  field, 
and  a  second  time,  after  a  lone  and  doubtAil  conflict,  was 
brought  to  the  ground  by  bis  gallant  enemy,  whom  he  vainly 
tried  to  provoke  by  reiterated  menaces  and  insults  to  follow 
up  his  blow,  and  to  rid  him  of  a  life  which  was  solely  devoted 
to  one  &tal  poipose.  The  ew<tid  bad  accidentally  struck  him 
•Badiitsdiituce.         ■Cooiud.         'lUdwoiks. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


HOBTB  ASTHUB.  -     177 

on  the  place  of  lus  former  wound.  His  pain  was  gnater,  and 
his  noomry  stower  than  before ;  and  he  was  stiU  nnaUe  to 
ttnTf  anna, — when  an  unexpected  piece  of  intelligence  com- 
pelled ATthuf  to  abandon  his  enterprise  against  Sir  Lancelot, 
and  to  retnm  with  all  speed  to  En^and. 

That  folse  traitour  Sir  Modred, 

(Hie  kinge's  foeter-son  he  wes, 
And  eke  his  own  son,  as  I  read, 

llierefore  men  him  for  steward  dies.  *) 
So  folself  hath  be  Enghmd  led, 

Wete  ^on  well,  wi^onten  lese. 
His  emeu*  wife  would  he  wed : 
That  Toanjr  a  man  rued  that  rese. 

As  there  was  at  Qtat  time  little  regular  communicatioii 
between  distant  conntriee,  and  as  no  event  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  reqiiire  the  dispatch  of  a  special  messenger  had 
occoned  at  the  siege  of  Benwick,  Modred,  who  had  tasted 
the  sweets  of  power,  and  was  in  poseeseion  of  the  royal  treo- 
smy,  determined  to  spread  a  report  of  his  imcle's  death ;  and, 
hnTing  succeeded  in  this  artifice,  summoned  an  assembly  of 
the  principal  lords,  and  obtained  &om  them  his  own  election 
to  the  tbrone.  During  the  festival  of  hia  coronation,  which 
took  place  at  Canterbury,  he  contrived  to  purchase  a  number 
of  partisans  to  his  cause,  whom  he  dispatched  to  the  coast 
with  OTdeiB  to  lev;  troops,  and,  in  the  event  of  Arthur's 
return,  to  oppose  force  by  force.  He  neirt  proceeded  to  Win- 
i^ester,  where  he  procured  such  a  number  of  adherenta,  that; 
6nding  Ms  power  solidly  established,  he  resolved  on  marrying 
Ouenever,  whose  beauty,  it  seems,  was  still  a  necessary  or- 
nament to  the  court  of  a  British  sovereign.  But  the  artful 
queen,  having  obtained  a  fbrtni^t'i  respite,  under  pretence 
of  arraying  herself  with  greater  magnificence  at  the  approach- 
ing wMd^^,  made  her  escape  to  London,  and,  shutting  her- 
self up  in  the  Tower  with  a  strong  garrison  of  her  fiiends, 
had  the  courage  to  set  at  defiance  the  utmost  efforts  of  the 
usurper. 

As  Modred  was  by  no  means  disposed  to  relinqnish  his 

purpose,  but  lost  no  time  in  boei^;ing  his  intended  bride,  the 

archbishop  of  Canterbury  now  thought  it  his  du^  to  inter- 

■  CIwn;  Mlected.  ■  Unda'i. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


ITS  XAKtT  Esauis  xwimioAi.  sohascei. 

fcn,  md  MMrchirg  ia  «  aolenB  pgoocMion.  pneoeded  faj-  the 
oniattx,  tomnk  the  Tow«r,  Bude  an  ezoel&iit  humgae  to 
the  anr  kiu,  ivpromiiuBg  him  with  his  inoestnous  intentian*. 
UaftetvBatelf ,  however,  the  (dtject  of  thia  advioe  had  rtxj 
little  respect  for  the  church. 

"Ah!  nice'  cleAl"  iaidModred,  "then, 
Troweet  thou  to  warn  me  of  my  will? 
By  Him  that  for  m  niSered  pain, 

Theae  wcu^ee  ihalt  thou  like  full  ill! 
With  wild  horae  then  sbalt  be  dnyn. 

And  hanged  hi(^  upon  a  bill!" 
The  bishop  to  flee  then  was  ftin. 

And  suffisred  him  bia  follies  to  fiilflil. 
Then  he  him  curaed  with  book  and  bdl 

At  Conterbuiy  &t  in  Kent; 
Soon  when  Hodred  heard  thereof  t^ 

To  seek  the  bishop  hath  he  sent. 
Hie  bishop  dunt  no  longer  dwell; 

Bnt  gold  and  silver  hath  he  bent;* 
■fliepe  was  no  longer  for  to  spell. 
But  to  a  wilderness  he  is  went. 
Loekilj  fiir  Gueoerer,  the  strraigth  of  the  Tower  reodered 
bar  wtcte  essential  service  than  the  imprecations  of  the  poor 
anohbiah^i  and  her  persecutor  was  compelled  to  relinquiah 
hsB  ange,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  necesaarj'  precautions 
gg-i— t  his  uncle's  invaaion. 

Ik  iaet,  Arthur  had  used  all  posdble  expedition.  He 
thsttl^  arrived  with  bis  fleet  off  Dover,  where  he  beheld  with 
astnBiahmnnt  a  large  army  of  his  former  subjects  prepared  to 
onpoH  his  landing;  and  no  sooner  had  he  rcach«a  tlie  shore, 
taw  hia  galleys  were  attacked  with  such  tmpetuoei^  that  hie 
loat  ^any  of  his  beat  troops  before  he  could  efi^  their  dia- 
coiAariution.  Amongst  the  slain  was  the  "  good  Qawain," 
who,  Qiou^  "  (dok  and  sore  uaaound,"  so  as  to  be  unable  to 
bear  the  pressure  of  his  helmet,  had  called  for  his  armour, 
and,  encountering  the  first  rage  of  the  assailants,  had  been 
killed  1^  a  blow  on  the  head  at  the  beginning  of  the  conflict. 
Arttuir,  however,  ignonuit  of  his  nephew's  &te,  succeeded  in 
hia  attack,  mads  a  great  slaughter  of  the  enemy,  and  pursued 

.>  VoolMk.  *  C*ii^ ;  ecUeeted  ia  bitfe. 


j„.„^.,  Cookie 


M«l9n  iMTBXlt,  179 

diem  till  iii^t  on  tlte  nwd  1o  Ointeibiirjr,  where  Hodicd  was 
posted  vidi  the  main  boc^  of  hts  Kcmj.  On  the  next  morn- 
ing Ad  rebels  boldly  advuoed  to  meet  him,  and  the  ho«tile 
anniee  mcoontered  ad  Banra-down ,'  where,  after  a  bloody 
and  deciDTB  batde,  Aitirar  ma  tgun  Tictorious.  Here, 
wiule  ooct^ed-  in  bvryii^  dw  dead,  wboaa  banowa  (ae  onr 
andtor  aaaaree ns)  are stQlTiailde,  he  fint  leamt  the  &te  of 
the  iUnstrions  Gswoin,  whose  body  he  camed  to  be  removed 
from  the  galley  vbere  it  1^,  and  to  be  intond  with  all  pos- 
sible pomp  "  in  a  chapell  amyd  die  qnire"  in  the  oathedial  of 
Oanterbu^;  afler  which,  fiiuling  (hat  Hodred  had  retreated 
into  Wales,  he  proceeded  to  the  westward  aa  &r  as  Salisbury, 
whence  he  is«aed  his  orders  for  iiiiiiililiiig  a  freah  army, 
whom  he  uipointed  to  join  him  at  Whilanndde,  and  th^i, 
Gontinniag  hie  march,  advanoed  still  fhrOwr  into  the  West, 
whei«  Moored  had  collected  a  larae  body  fd  forces,  and  was 
i^jain  ready  to  meet  him  in  the  fold.  It  was  determined  bj 
matnal  consent  that  this  important  battle  ahould  take  place 
immediately  after  the  teast  o£  the  lUnity ;  and  Arthur,  lelj- 
ing  on  the  well-tried  valour  of  his  veterans,  though  much 
inferior  in  p«niit  of  combers,  fimdl^  anticipated  tte  imme- 
diate destruction  of  his  riTal,  and  his  own  restorBtion  to  the 
un^spnted  sovereignty  of  Britain. 

But  on  the  eve  of  the  intended  battle  he  had  a  dicadiul 
ttceem  (dream) ;  and  as  the  dreams  of  Arthur  were  often 
more  to  the  puipose  than  his  waking  thonghts,  the  reader 
win  be  pleased  to  see  this  in  the  words  of  the  originaL 

At  night,  when  Arthur  was  hnnu^t  in  bed, 
(He  should  have  battle  upon  the  ntorrow) 

In  strong  swevens  be  was  be-sted. 

That  many  a  man  that  day  should  have  sonow. 

Him  thought  he  nt,  in  gold  all  gled,* 
As  he  was  comely  king  vrith  crovrn, 

Upon  ft  wheel  thftt  fiiil  wide  spread. 
And  all  his  kni^tas  to  him  boun,* 

The  wheel  was  ferly*  rich  and  round. 
In  worid  was  never  none  half  so  high; 
1  Birium  Down,  near  Cintnlniiy.      It  ii  itill  corosd  frith  Stzon 
barnnn,  maof  of  vbicfa  h»e  b«sn  opened,  ind  ihow  that  it  wu  a  Sudb 
I  milillij  ;  bnt  then  b  no  reuon  fbr  eoppodng  it  the  nsalt  of  a  tntUe- 
fieU.       I  Shmiog;  briUknt.      *  Headr,  olMdient.       *  Wotiderfullr. 
IT  2 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


ISO  XIBLT  BltOLISS  KZTUOU  XOIUMCBS. 

Diereon  he  sat,  richly  crowned. 

With  many  a  beaatint,  broche,  and  beye.' 
He  looked  down  upon  the  ground, 

A  black  water  under  him  he  seye; 
With  dragons  fele  there  lay  unbonnd. 

That  no  man  durst  them  ni^ie  nigh. 
He  was  wonder  feared  to  &11 

Among  the  Sendee  there  that  fought; 
Ihe  wheel  overturned  there  withall. 

And  ererych  by  a  limb  him  canf^t. 
The  king  gan  loud  cry  and  call, 

Ab  marred  roan  of  wit  unaaoght* 
His  chamberlains  waked  him  there  withall. 

And  wodely*  out  of  his  sleep  him  hrooght. 
All  night  gan  he  woke -and  weep. 

With  dreaiT  heart  and  sorrowful  stev^n;* 
And  against  day  he  fell  on  sleep; 

About  him  was  set  titters  seven. 
Him  thought  Sir  Qawain  him  did  keep. 

With  mo  folk  than  men  can  neren;' 
And  a  river  that  was  broad  and  deep ; 

All  seemed  angels  come  from  heaven. 
The  king  was  never  yet  ao  &in, 

His  foBter-son  when  that  ne  see; 
"  Welcome,"  he  aaid,  "  Sir  Gawain ! 

An  thou  might  Uve,  well  were  me! 
Now,  leve  friend,  withouten  layn.* 

What  are  tho  folk  that  follow  (bee?'* 
"  Certes,  sir,"  be  said  again, 

"  They  bide  in  Uiss,  there  I  root  be. 
"  Lordea  they  were,  and  ladies  hend. 

This  worldis  life  that  han  forlorn; 
Wlule  I  was  man  on  life  to  lend. 

Against  their  foen  I  fought  them  tcaaJ 
Now  find  I  them  my  moste  fiiend. 

They  bleaa  the  time  that  I  was  beam; 
They  aaked  leave  with  me  to  wend. 

To  meet  with  you  npon  this  morn. 
>  CotD,  bnckh,  and  onumcDt.     ■Atitrile.     ■  MuSf.     ^VwecA.  S. 

'  jitme.  *  Coneealmcat.  '  For. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


KOBTK  ASTHCB.  ISl 

"  A  month-day  of  Qruce  nuiBt  ye  take. 

And  then  to  bftttlc  be  ye  bayn ; ' 
Tou  Cometh  to  he^  I^mieelDt  du  I^ke, 

With  many  a  man  mickle  of  main. 
To-morrow  the  battle  ye  must  forsake, 

Or  else,  oertes,  ye  shall  be  slain." 
The  king  gan  wofblly  weep  and  wake, 

And  said,  "  Ahu !  this  roeftil  laynl"* 

Arthur,  on  waking,  did  not  fail  to  commiaiicate  to  his 
council  the  supemahusl  intelligence  and  advice  which  he  had 
just  received;  and  they  all  concurred  in  the  propriety  of 
postponing  the  battle,  if  it  should  be  possible  to  obtain  the 
consent  of  Modred  for  the  purpose. 

Sir  Lucan,  the  butler,  was  ft{q>ointed  to  conduct  this  n^o- 
tiation,  and  repaired,  with  a  hundred  knights  as  his  attend- 
ants, and  with  a  competent  number  of  bishops  as  his  ad-risers, 
to  the  camp  of  Modred,  whom  they  found,  in  dte  first  in- 
stance, extremely  brutal  and  unbwitable,  but  whom  they 
ultimately  induced  not  only  to  accept  of  a  truce,  bat  even,  to 
relinquish  the  sovereignty  of  the  island,  on  condition  of  being 
inveeted  with  an  ind^)endeut  and  despotic  government  over 
the  two  countries  of  Kent  and  Cornwall,  with  the  ftuUier 
assurance  of  succeeding  to  the  throne  after  the  old  king's 
death.  But  he  also  insisted  that  Arthur  should  ratify  this 
treafy  in  his  presence,  and  before  twen^-eight  knights  as 
witnesses,  fourteen  of  whom  should  attend  each  of  thJe  con- 
tracting parties,  and  set  their  hands  to  the  convention  in  the 
Bght  of  both  armies.  Arthur  readily  acqnieeced  in  these 
cmiditions;  and  the  rival  chieis,  having  selected  the  stipa< 
lated  number  of  attendants,  advanced  to  the  place  of  meetdng, 
which  was  a  small  eminence  at  on  e^nal  distance  &om  boUi 
camps.  But  each  distrusted  the  smcerify  of  the  other. 
Hiey,  therefore,  after  marshalling  their  respective  armies, 
sepamtely  gave  orders,  that  if  on  either  side  a  sword  should 
be  drawn,  the  trumpets  should  instantly  sound  tlie  cba^e, 
and  the  troops  advance  to  the  attack  without  further  inquiry. 

ITie  terms  of  the  treaty  were  mutually  accepted,  and  the 

accommodation  nearly  ooncluded,  when  an  adder  gliding  from 

boieatli  a  thom-bush  sudden^  stang  one  irf  the  knights;  who, 

1  Jtrndj,  ■  C17,  MMBd. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


Hi  XAiLT  nroLita  mituoal  xoKUfcn. 

fiwIiitK  hiniMlf  wounded,  drew  hia  nrord  to  deatroy  tiw  rep- 
til'',  and  tbuN  inoonsideratelr  gave  the  signal  for  battle.  Berth 
nrmw*  hail  been  equally  denioDi  of  peace,  and  bolli  were 
innitiiN-<l  bi  mndnoM  by  a  ■unwwd  act  of  tmu^xTj  whiidi 
tmi'h  imput4-d  to  the  other.  TitB  conflict,  tbus  o^^  on  by 
indivitltuil  liatrcd,  could  only  tenniuata  in  their  mutual  des- 
truotiun;  niid,  at  the  clow  of  thia  dreadM  day,  Arthur  found 
himwif  Kupptirted  bv  two  knights  only.  Sir  Lnean  and  Sir 
Jh'dwiir,  bi>t)i  of  wtiom  wcro  griovoiuly  wounded;  and  Sir 
Modr«l  atood  quit*  alone,  turroundcd  by  a  confliaed  heap  of 
MbHuhtdriHl  friends  and  enemies.  The  old  king,  losing  aD 
iWtHillMitinu  iif  hi*  dream  at  the  sight  of  his  ne&nouB  rival, 
Mland  a  spear,  rushed  against  him,  and  pierced  him  throogh 
tlii>  ImmI  V  i  but  Modn'd  at  the  same  instant  rusing  his  awmrd 
Ntniok  nim  on  the  hplmet  with  such  conTulsiTe  strength,  that 
tho  wnipnn  inftiotnd  a  mortal  wound,  and  Arthur  mnk  in 
n  swoon  to  tho  earth.  "When  recovered  from  this  fit,  he  was 
CNXivvyiH)  to  an  ndjoining  hermitage ;  but  the  appearance  of  a 
intmb«>r  of  pciwanU  frota  the  neighbouring  countir,  who  were 
pmiiloyod  on  thp  field  of  battle  in  stripping  the  d^d,  led  his 
IHpnda  to  roiximmMid  a  second  remoTal.  Sir  Locnn,  bow- 
rvt>r.  on  attempting  to  take  the  monarch  on  hia  back,  anddeoly 
pxptred ;  upon  which,  Arthur  giving  up  all  hope  of  a  ftirther 
]>r«(tnviH,  mUM  to  Sir  Bedwer.  and.dchvering  to  him  his  good 
awonl  KMNliborv,  adjured  him  to  throw  it  into  the  sea.  and  to 
brintt  him  hack  an  acMnmt  of  tite  tokens  which  he  rfioald  ob- 
i»rtv  IB  iMn«ixitM«t«  of  this  actioa.  Sir  Bedwer  accepted  the 
CVNtmiMion.  h«t,  tempted  by  ti»  beauty  and  excellence  of  tbe 
awtvd,  ntnci^i^d  it  under  a'tTci>.  and  returned  to  the  king,  to 
wktw  ijHOHiitm  N«pnttins  what  superaatiual  appearanoea  he 
had  nntirttl.  ho  was  oUigrd  to  answer,  that  he  had  aeen 
nothinn  "hHt  watMS  dwp  and  waves  wan."  Thoneh  sevmly 
n^pnuK-hwl  by  tho  king  (br  his  tR«cbery,  and  rtricUy  enj<HiKd 
t«  ohpr  tho  nuomand  which  he  had  rweived,  he  retamed  a 
fwnmi  limo  with  an  ctiwdly  unsatisfiKtary  answ«,  after 
Wviivi  thrawn  tbp  acahbard  only  into  the 'water;  bat  tite 
indijlPwtMin  and  mcMucvs  of  Ardinr,  after  dus  secood  innfiTP 
i>r«Wit.  dtmvnaincd  him  tn  irtwa  fcr  Ac  titird  time  aad  to 
'Mbnmw  hi*  wdtHTS. 

Sir  itodwirr  nw  that  botr  was  hett. 
And  la  Ac  goode  smtd  he  w«a<; 


uL,  Google 


HOBTS  ABTBOX.  183 

lato  the  Kft  Ml  &r  he  it  keit;' 

Then  might  he  see  what  thttt  it  meant. 
Hiere  came  an  hand,  withouten  reat. 
Out  of  the  water,  and  &ir  it  heat; 
And  bnndiahed,  as  it  should  biast,* 

And  sithe,  aa  gleme*  away  it  gleat.* 
To  the  Idne  agaiii  irent  he  there. 

And  Mid,  "  Lief  sir,  I  saw  a  hand; 
Out  of  the  water  it  come  all  bore. 

And  thiioe  bnmdiahed  that  rich  brand." 
"  Help  me !  soon  were  I  thore !" 

He  led  his  lord  unto  the  gtrsod; 
A  rich  ship,  with  masts  and  oar. 
Full  of  ladies  there  they  fiuid.> 
Tie  ladies,  that  were  feii  and  free. 

Courteously  the  king  gan  they  fbng; 
And  one,  that  brightest  was  of  blee,' 
Weeped  sore,  and  haodes  wrong. 
"  Brother,"  she  said,  "  wo  is  me; 

From  leeching  hast  thou  been  too  long : 
I  trot  that  greatly  grieveth  mo. 
For  thy  painis  are  flill  strong  T' 
Sir  Bedwer,  thus  separated  from  his  master,  of  when  he 
learnt  at  parting  that  he  was  goin^  to  the  isle  of  Avaloa,  m 
hopes  of  finding  a  remedy  for  hta  wonnda,  iiailiawij  M 
wmder  through  the  forest  till  near  day-break,  when  >»bu 
nstiall^  brilliant  light  directed  hie  steps  to  a  small  iiha|i>l 
a^CHiung  to  a  hermitage.  This  was  the  retreat  of  tbs  pnvB 
arebbiahop  who  had  been  persecuted  by  Modnd.  He  inmtm 
his  knees  before  a  newly-erected  tomb  of  gray  marble,  on  &• 
top  (rf  which  was  laid  an  empty  bier  sarromuJed  by  a.  hnoAred 
wax  torches.  Sir  Bedwer,  when  the  good  man  hod  finiihad 
his  devotions,  inquired  who  was  buried  in  diat  tomb,  on  wWeh 
be  observijd  an  inaedptioD  is  gtdden  chaiacter*;  when  th« 
hermit  replied,  that  he  had  not  hitherto  attended  to  that  cir- 
cumstance, his  curiosity  baring  been  suspended  by  his  annety 
to  fid£l  the  sacred  dodcfl  recommended  to  him.  How  tte 
tomfa  had  been  suddenly  constracted  he  knew  not;  but,  afciwt 
widtiig^  the  bier  had  been  broagfat  by  a  company  of  hdiss, 
>  Cot    ■  Bnnt.     •  li^miiw.     •  OIkiid.    •  Wmai      '  ~       ~    ' 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


184  EABLT  XKOLISH  MEIBICU.  SOtUXOStl. 

who,  witii  tlieir  own  handi,  had  bnried  the  body  irtiich  it 
supported,  had  left  an  offbring  of  immenae  value,  and  had 
directed  him  to  pny  inccanmtly  for  the  soul  of  the  deceased. 
Sir  Bedwer  now  examined  the  inacriptitHi,  and,  finiling  that 
the  dead  body  was  that  of  Arthur,  re<]>ue8ted  leare  to  share 
the  piooB  office  with  the  good  bishop;  from  whom,  after 
"'"^"g  himself  known,  he  readily  obtained  an  admission  into 
the  holy  order  of  which  the  prelate  had  lately  taken  the  habit. 

In  the  mean  time  Queen  Gucnever,  who,  as  we  have  seen, 
had  found  an  asylum  in  the  Tower,  having  learned  the  fiita. 
efifects  of  the  war,  retired  to  a  aonnery  at  Ambresbury,  where 
she  took  the  veil,  together  with  five  of  her  &Tourite  attend- 
ants. Such  was  the  state  of  things  when  Sir  Lancelot,  who, 
on  first  hearing  the  tidings  of  Modred's  rebellioit,  bad  deter- 
mined to  assist  the  king  with  all  his  forces,  arrived  with  a 
lai^  fleet  at  Dover. 

^e  first  information  which  he  received  on  landing  was 
sufficient  to  convince  tii"i  that  be  had  come  too  late  for  most 
of  his  purposes.  The  death  of  Sir  Gawaia,  the  battle  of 
Barren-down,  and  the  subsequent  destruction  of  the  royal  and 
rebel  armies,  were  certain:  but  of  the  queen  it  was  only 
known  that  die  had  quitted  the  Tower;  the  place  of  her  re- 
treat, and  the  motives  of  it,  were  not  ascertained.  She  mig^t 
peihaps  still  want  his  aasutance :  at  all  events,  it  was  neces- 
sary that  he  should  leam  her  «-ishes  and  intentions,  to  which 
his  own  were  always  subordinate.  He  therefore  resolved  to 
depart  alone  in  quest  of  Qnenever;  and,  having  summoned  bis 
brother  Hector,  and  bis  consiiis  Sk^ort  and  Lyonel,  directed 
them  to  wait  for  his  return  for  fifteen  days;  after  which,  they 
might  dispose  of  the  army  as  they  alunild  judge  most  eipe- 
dimt. 

Accident  led  him  to  the  very  spot  which  contained  the 
mistress  c^  his  heart  Almost  extenuated  with  &tigue  and 
hunger,  he  entered  the  cloister  at  Ambresbury  in  search  of 
food,  and  was  instantly  recognised  bv  Quenever,  wh»  fell  down 
in  a  swoon. on  his  appearance.  When  recovered  by  the  care 
of  the  abbess  and  of  ti>e  nans,  who  hastened  to  her  assistance, 
and  were  followed  by  ibe  knight,  she  pointed  him  out  as  the 
pemn  whose  &tal  affection  for  her  had  eventually  prodoced 
all  the  misenea  I^  which  the  ooontzy  was  afflicted.  She  then 
addressed  herself  to  Lancelot,  and  a^nred  him  instantly  to 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


XOKTX  ABIHTtX.  185 

quit  ker  presence,  lest  he  should  retard  the  airival  of  ibat 
tnmqnil  (Kate  of  mind  vhich  she  hoped  hy  the  grace  of  Qod  to 
acquire,  amd  which  mi^t  enable  her,  by  a  ^thfiil  dischai^ 
of  the  severe  duties  now  imposed  on  her,  to  make  her  peace 
with  HeATen,  and  to  expiate  the  enormous  tnmBgreedons  of 
her  former  life.  By  retnniing  to  his  own  country,  by  pro- 
tecting his  mibjects  from  foreign  war  and  &om  domestic 
tynnny,  by  transferring  to  a  wife  those  Town  from  which  she 
willingly  released  him,  he  might  yet  expect  many  years  of 
hapjnneM  founded  on  virtue  and  innocence ;  and  to  Om  hap- 
pinMB,  if  the  prayers  of  a  sincere  penitent  were  of  any  avail, 
die  yet  hoped  to  contribute.  Lancelot  replied  that  their 
guilt,  whatever  was  its  extent,  had  been  mutual,  and  must 
require  from  both  the  same  expiation ;  that  hia  decision  was 
therefore  involved  in  hers;  and  that,  after  bidding  her  an 
eternal  brewell,  he  should  immediately  repair  to  some  hermi- 
tage, and  pass  the  remnant  of  his  days  m  festing  and  in  prayer. 
He  then,  as  a  last  &TOnr,  requested  a  parting  kiss ;  which 
she  very  wisely  withheld,  bestowing  on  him  m  its  stead  a 
moral  admonition,  which  was  much  more  likely  to  confirm 
him  in  his  pious  renolution. 

Btill  pursuing  hia  journey  in  the  same  direction,  he  arrived 
at  an  extensive  forest,  through  which  he  wandered  without  a 
determinate  object,  till  the  sound  of  a  chapel-bell  at  last 
directed  him  to  the  same  hermitage  which  already  contained 
Sir  Bedwer  and  the  archbishop.  Here,  after  listening  to  a 
divumstantia]  accomit  of  Arthur's  death,  he  received  absolu- 
tion from  the  holy  prelate,  and  was  solemnly  invested  with  the 
monastic  habit;  and  a  very  few  weeks  elapsed  before  the 
jaous  congregation  was  increased  by  the  addition  of  Sir 
Bohort  and  four  of  his  companions,  who,  when  the  fleet  was 
Mot  back  to  Britany,  hod  set  off  in  quest  of  their  commander, 
ffir  Lyonel,  with  fifty  knights,  who  had  undertaken  the  same 
qnest,  had  been  treacherously  murdered  on  their  passage 
UiKnigh  London.  Sir  Hector,  having  also  departed  in  search 
of  his  brother,  look  the  northern  road,  and  long  wandered 
over  the  country  to  no  purpose. 

During  seven  years.  Sir  Lancelot,  who  after  a  proper  novi- 
ciate was  ordained  to  the  priesthood,  diatinguished  himselt 
Irjr  a  life  of  the  most  active  and  exemplary  pie^;  but  at 
length 


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186  KA2LY  BITQUBH  KKTKICAL  SOUAJfCEB. 

It  fell,  against  aa  eroi-tide. 

That  LtuiDcelot  sickened  sely  save:' 
The  biflhop  he  deped'  to  hia  side. 

And  all  his  fellowe  less  and  mare. 
He  said,  "  Brethren,  1  may  no  longer  abide; 

Uy  bol^ul'  blood  of  life  is  bare^ 

What  boot*  ia  it  to  belc'  and  hide? 

My  foul  flesh  will  to  earth  &ze!< 

"But,  brethren,  I  pray  you  to-ni^t. 

To-morrow,  when  ye  find  me  dead, 

Upon  a  bier  that  ye  will  me  dight,i 

And  to  Joyous-gaide  then  me  lead. 
For  the  lore  of  God  Allmight, 
Bury  my  body  in  that  stead : 
Some  time  my  troth  therto  I  plight; 
Alas !  nte  for-thinkcth*  that  I  so  did! " 
"  Mercy,  sir,"  they  said  all  three, 
"  For  Hie  lore  that  died  oa  rood, 
Giff  any  evil  have  grieved  thcc. 

It  is  but  heaviness  of  your  Uood! 
To-morrow  ye  shall  better  be ! 

When  were  ye  but  of  comfort  good?" 
Merrily  spake  all  men  but  he. 

But  straight  unto  his  bed  he  yode,* 
And  cleped  the  bishop  him  until. 

And  shrove  him  of  his  sins  clean,  ke. 
The  holy  Iwethren  thai  retired  to  their  t^ok,  tot  were 
wakened  before  day  by  atrange  shonts  ot  exultation  uttered 
by  the  sleeping  lu^iop,  who,  beii^  with  difficult  recovered 
man  his  slumber,  aanired  the  hretfaren  that  he  had  seen  tiie 
soul  oi  Lanoelot  asccaiding  to  heaven  under  an  escort  of 
"tJurty  thousand  and  seven  angela."  The  astonished  and 
■omewhat  incredulous  hearers,  living  lifted  a  candle,  ap- 
pmached  the  bed  of  the  knight;  and,  finding  him  quite  stiff 
and  cold,  no  kmger  doubted  tbe  truth  of  the  visicHi. 

After  five  days  employed  in  watching  the  body,  and  in 

mnting  the  eerrice  for  the  dead,  they  proceeded  to  execute 

4ke  last  commands  of  their  friend,  and  cOBveying  him  tm.  a 

*  Tmj  cr  wntAeUr  ntdy.    ■  Cdled.    ■  EtO.     *  Help;  adrU 

*  CoDoed.      *  Go.     '  Prnub     ■  Repent*.      *  Want. 


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XOSTE  iLBTHITB.  187 

tner,  amTcd  aAer  a  fbrtniglit'a  march  at  la  Jayease  Gard«. 
Heie  tliey  interred  Iiim  with  due  Bolemnitv;  tmd  here  Sir 
Hecttv,  after  his  te<bt«8  quest,  had  the  good  fortune  to  aniit 
in  praying  for  the  soul  of  hia  brother,  after  whose  example  he 
renounced  the  profeesian  of  arms,  and  assumed  the  monastic 
habit.  On  their  return,  they  stopped  at  the  convent  of  Am- 
breabuiy,  where  they  leant  that  Guenerer  had  died  within  a 
few  days  of  Sir  Uuicelot;  they  Qxre&ae  toc^  charge  of  the 
body,  which  they  deposited  by  the  aide  of  Arthur  in  the 
eh^el  of  their  bennitage,  which,  receiTing  Bucceesive  addi- 
tions of  hcdy  men,  gradually  grew  up  into  the  flaurishing  and 
celebrated  monastery  of  Glastonbury. 

He  lamentations  which  attended  these  melancholy  evesto 
bcang,  in  the  metrical  copy,  rather  insipid,  hare  beoi  omitted 
in  our  extract,  which  we  shall  close  by  the  speech  of  Sir 
Bohort,  as  given  in  Malory's  prose  compilation.  "And  now 
I  dare  saj — that.  Sir  Lancelot,  ther  thou  lyeat,  thou  were 
aerer  matched  dl  none  earthly  knight's  hMids.  And  thou 
were  the  corteist  kni^  that  ever  bare  shielde.  And  tboa 
were  tJie  tauest  &eende  to  tiiy  lover  that  ever  bestiode  hotae; 
and  thoH  were  the  truest  lorer,  of  a  synM  man,  that  ercr 
loved  woman.  And  tlion  were  the  kindest  man  that  vmc 
stroke  with  swerde.  And  thou  were  the  goodliest  peraan 
that  ercT  eanae  amonge  ta«ce  (crowd)  of  kny^tes.  .And 
thou  were  the  meekest  man  and  the  gentilleet  uat  em  sale 
in  hal  among  ladies.  And  thou  were  the  sternest  kni^it  to 
thy  mortall  ibe  that  ever  put  apere  in  the  rest! '" 


■one  title  M  the  proent,  and  dftiiling  the  lut  Ecenea  of  the  ensiftd 
ot  King  AjthiiT  >t  Tery  gnat  IcDgth.  It  ia  praervcd  in  t  MS.  In 
lAnry  of  lincoUi  Cathednl,  uid  exlmdi  to  ■erenl  thDuaad  II 
lU*  nuuca  hu  Imb  pnUiibed  by  Mr.  lUliwdl,  4tD,  1U7. 


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INTRODUCTION  TO  QUY  OF  WABWICK. 


Thih  work,  with  the  title  of  "Hie  book  of  tlie  most  victorioiu 
prince  Guy  Eaxl  at  Wfuwick,"  was  printed  hy  WiQiMn 
Copland,  «-ithout  ft  date,  but,  as  Ritson  tells  us,  bdbre  1567; 
■ad  reprinted,  according  to  the  same  anthor,  before  1571> 
Where  the  lifter  edition  exists  I  know  not;  of  the  former 
there  is  a  copy,  but  very  imperfect,  in  Oarrick's  collection, 
and  a  second,  which  is  perfect,  in  the  libmr  of  the  Duke  <£ 
Bozbmgb,'  who  purchased  it  at  the  sale  of  the  late  Mr.  Stee- 
vens.  The  printed  work,  howerer,  is  extremely  rare,  having 
been  superseded  by  ft  modem  ftbridgment  in  prose,  or  rathn 
perhaps  in  blank  Terse  printed  Uke  prose,  which  is  to  be 
found  ftt  almost  every  st^  in  tbe  metropolis. 

A  most  beautiful  and  perfect  MS.  of  Uiis  poem  is  preserved 
in  tbe  library  of  Caius  collie,  Cambridge,  and  another  in  the 
FuUic  library  Ff.  ii.  38 ;  but  the  most  curious  and  ancient 
we  two  fragments  oMitaiiied  in  the  Anchinleck  MS.  at  Edin- 
burgh, of  trtiich  I  have  availed  myself,  as  &r  as  possible,  in 
Ae  fi>llowing  abstract.' 

Ony  of  Warwick  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  ancient  and 
popular,  and  no  less  certainly  one  of  the  dullest  and  most 
teoioua  <^  our  early  romances ;  besides  which,  Mr.  Ritson  has 
taken  some  pains  to  prove  that  no  hero  of  this  name  is  to  be 
found  in  real  historv.  It  will  perhaps  be  thought  indifferent 
whether  such  exploits  as  are  related  of  Sir  Guy  be  attributed 
to  Julius  Ceesar  or  to  Jack  the  OiantkiUer;  but  it  seemed 
natural  to  class  this  and  the  following  tale  as  Saxon,  because 
tbey  may  possibly  be  founded  on  some  Saxon  tradition,  and 
cannot  be  reduced  to  any  other  classificftdon. 

Hie  name  of  our  hero  is  undoubtedly  French ;  and  the  only 
Saxon  name  to  which  it  has  any  resemblance  is  that  of  Egils, 
iriiD  did  in  &ct  nmtribute  vray  materially  to  the  important 
Tictwy  gained  by  Atbebrtan  over  the  Danes  and  their  allies 

■  It  wu  pnrduMd  tt  Qie  Roiburgh  m1«  hj  Hr.  Heber,  for  £i3  U., 
uad  laid  tt  Hcber"!  nb  in  1B34,  for  £25.  Then  ii  ilu  an  editiaD 
*Miaat  date,  printed  b;  John  Ovood. 

*  Printnl  br  th«  Abbattfind  Club,  4ti>,  lUO. 

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iirraoDTrcnoiT  to  otJY  or  •WA^yncK.  1B9 

at  Bnmanbui^h ;  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  this  warlike 
foreigner,  be<»ming  the  hero  of  one  of  die  many  od«s  com- 
posed on  the  occasion  of  tliat  mudi  celebrated  battle,  nay 
have  been  transformed,  by  some  Norman  monk,  into  the  pious 
and  amorons  Guy  of  Warwick.' 

Be  this  aa  it  may,  the  tale,  in  its  present  state,  has  die 
^ipeaitince  of  being  composed  from  the  materials  of  at  least 
two  OT  three,  if  not  more,  romances.  The  fint  is  a  moat 
tuesome  loTe-story,  which,  it  may  be  presumed,  originally 
ended  willi  the  marriage  of  the  fond  couple;  to  this,  it  should 
seem,  was  afterwards  tacked  on  a  series  of  fresh  adrentures 
invented  or  compiled  by  some  pilgrim  &om  the  Holy  I«nd; 
and  the  hero  of  this  legend  was  ^en  brought  home  for  the 
defence  of  AQielatan,  and  the  destruction  o£  Colbrand.  Sir 
Heraud  of  Ardeime,  we  know,  is  the  hero  of  a  separate 
romance;  and  so  is  Sir  Kayboni;  yet  it  is  certain  that  the 
duU  and  heavy  compilatiora  which  the  reader  is  about  to  ' 
encounter  was  writt^  in  French  at  least,  as  early  as  the 
thirteenth  century,  and  translated  in.  the  b^inning  of  thf 
fourteenth :  so  that  Wartim  is  evidently  mistaken  in  supposing 
that  it  was  portly  copied  fi^m  the  Gesta  Bomanorum,  which, 
1:7  his  own  admission,  was  composed  at  a  much  later  date. 

Sir  Guy  is  quoted  by  Chaucer  as  one  of  the  romancu  of 
price;  but  the  hero  of  Warwick  has  a  much  warmer  panegy- 
rist in  one  of  our  early  historians,  whose  words  are  quoted  m 
the  note  below,  and  who  has  introduced  an  apparently  exact 
tcanslatiau  of'tlie  romance  into  the  very  exordium  (d  his 
history.' 

Perhaps  it  may  be  necessary  to  apol(^ise  for  the  length  of 
the  extract  firon  the  romance  of  "  Guy  and  Colbrand,"  written 
in  twelve-line  stanzas,  and  contained  in  the  Auchinleck  MS. 
But  die  editor  saw,  or  thought  he  saw,  in  that  performance 
a  degree  of  spirit  and  animatian  which  formed  a  striking  con- 
trast with  the  usual  monotony  of  the  minstrel  compositions. 

'  Hie  original  ramuGe  is  in  An^o-Normm,  nnd  iti  hiitory  ms  gtrm 
at  length  in  e.  paper  by  Mr.  Wright,  read  at  tlie  British  AnJueological 
Anociation.  1847. 

■  Sed  i]iua  hiitoria  dicti  Omdocii  caoctis  Kcnlia  landalnll  menioria 
ooDuneiidandB  eit,  in  prvwati  hietoris  Immiieera  onrarl,  &c.  Hen.  de 
Kujrghtiai  »p.  Hiit.  Aug.  Scriptons  i.  p.  2321. 


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QnT   OF   WARWICK. 


Bosuro  ma  one  of  the  most  powerful  nobleB  in  Ei^iimi; 
iiiritiff  in  his  own  penon  the  ««T4iinTnii  of  WarwuJE,  of 
Oxb^  and  of  Bockingham.  He  was  bnve,  wise,  and  libcnL 
H«  hftd  an  aoiy  daughter,  named  Felice,  wboae  nuBUanna 
paiftelaanB  are  Ukos  described : 

Oenlil  she  was,  andaBdemme 

A»  ger-bok,'  or  &lcrai  to  hue, 

That  out  of  mow  were  y-drawe.* 

80  fiur  wa>  n<»e,  in  tooth  aawet* 

She  WM  tiMireto  ooniieons,  and  free,  and  wise. 

And  in  the  aavm  arts  Imned  withmiten  nuM. 

Her  masten  mm  thithor  oome 

Oat  ofDmndonse,  all  and  some.' 

"White  and  hoar  all  thoy  w«Te; 

Bn^  they  weie  that  maiden  to  lara.* 

And  they  her  lerod  ctf  osfaNmoray, 

Of  ais-metrick,*  and  of  geometry; 

Of  Bophifltiy  she  was  also  wit^; 

Of  ttwiarick,  and  ot  other  oleigy. 

Learned  she  was  in  maaick : 

Of  cloigyT  was  her  none  like. 
It  will  immediately  occur  to  the  reader  that,  if  it  be  no 
loDger  nmal  to  compare  the  modest  and  nmiswiming  demean- 
otir  td  a  virgin  to  the  demureness  of  a  bird  of  prey,  this  may 
panUy  arise  from  our  being  less  familiar  than  our  anaestors 
were  witb  the  moral  habits  of  ger-&lcons.  But,  as  it  is  not 
obviously  requisite  that  a  young  countess  should  become  an 
aatmnomer,  a  geometrician,  tmd  a  soidiiBt,  it  may  not  be 
irapertment  to  observe,  that  a  knowledge  of  all  the  liberal 
arts  was  considered  as  essential  to  a  proficiency  in  medicine 
(an  attainment  absolutely  necessary  to  all  ladies  in  the  times 
of  chiTttby) ;  and  that  the  medical  professors  of  Thoulouse,  IM 
'  A  Idnd  of  large  blcoo.  •  Drswn.  *  In  trathfiil  tpndi.  *  All  tmd 
tome,  i.e.  eifirj  oat.    '  To  Icseh.    ■  Arithmelic.     '  Science;  lamiag. 

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Girr  «r  wakwiox.  191 

weQ  ■*  tluMB  of  %am,  owed  mndi  of  tbeir  oelebritj  to  their 

Periu^  -aotronoiiiy,  or  nther  BstiDlogy,  migbt  be  of  nae. 


r  Tirtoe  to  the  I: 
of  the  Btan;  and  tbia  science  mpposes  some  acqumintance 
wiA  nrtthnntic  and  geometiy.  Aa  to  sophistTT  (i.  e.  logic), 
rhalBric,  md  the  o<A«r  dergy,  it  is  at  least  pn>lM)Ie  that  tb^ 
midtf  do  BO  harm. 

whila  this  extnordinaiy  vnioa  of  beanty  in»^  acieDoe  ui 
the  petaou  of  a  wealt)^  heirea,  gave  nnnaml  i^«ndoiir  to 
tta  eonrt  of  Ridiaiid,  the  foosdationa  of  his  power  were  aolidfy 
Wtafaliahed  b^  the  martial  virtnes  of  hia  kni^nte,  aud,  above 
aU,  by  tiie  alulitiea  and  inflexible  int^^ty  of  Begard  of  Wal- 
lii^lfetd,  his  steward  and  cotnuellgr.  The  prondest  banxu  q£ 
the  land  respected  the  laws  of  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  enibreed 
as  they  were  by  the  virtMias  Segard,  who  punished  ereiy 
iDfltdter  of  his  patnm's  authori^. 

And  with  strength  him  nim'  wolde, 
Ihongfa  he  to  Scotland  sue*  him  shcdde. 
Hioi^  a  man  bare  an  hundred  poond, 
Upon  him  of  gold  ao  round, 
I^ere.naa  man  in  all  this  luid, 
Ihat  dunt  hiia  do  Bhawf  no  schonde.* 
8egnd  had  a  am  named  Qny,  who,  having  been  educated 
among  fte  pages  of  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  was  laised  to  the 
hooonr  of  beu^  his  principal  onpbearer,   and  who  soon 
ineresMd,  1^  hia  own  merit,  the  favour  and  popularity  tor 
whsdi  be  was  originally  indebted  to  hia  father's  services. 
Segaid  had  inqiired  him  with  the  warmest  seal  fbr  the  in- 
terests Of  bis  master;  nature  had  given  him  a  beautiful  person, 
imcommoa  sliengdi  and  activity,  and  nndamited  courage ;  a 
iMter-6titer  rpreceptor)  perfectly  versed  in  all  tiie  exercisee 
of  diivalry,  the  oelebrated  H^raud  of  Ardoute,  had  taught 
him  the  mysteries 

Of  wood  and  river,  and  other  game— 
'■  of  hawke  and  honnde. 

Of  estrich-fiilcons'  of  great  momide  ;* 

>  Tsks.     •  Follow.     >  Diihoaonr.     *  ProlMbl;  the  Urgeit  falcotu,  )Dcli 
ai  were  capiblc  of  destroTuig  tlu  oitriclt.     '  Siiii> 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


193  UKLT  XiraUBS  ICBTBICAI.  XOIUJICBf. 

wbich.  added  to  gnoe  uid  mddreai  at  '■  bordia,"  (tahlea),  at 
toumamentH,  and  at  dteaa,  formed  all  the  necessary  qaali£ca- 
tian»  of  a  hero. 

Such  waa  the  itate  of  Rohand'a  court  when  he  was  called 
iQKXi  to  celebrate,  aooording  to  annual  custom,  the  feast  of 
Pentecost. 

This  aplendid  ceremony,  which  drew  together  all  the  no- 

bilify  of  the  country,  began  by  the  celebration  of  hi^  masa, 

which  was  followed  by  a  sumptuous  banquet,  to  whiui  «^in 

fuooaeded  the  amuaementi  of  the  chase,  or  of  dandng.    The 

fbllowing  days  (for  the  great  festirBls  of  the  year  generalhr 

oooupied  a  whole  fortnight)  were  marked  by  justs,  and  tonr- 

namonta,  and  other  warlike  diversions,  as  well  as  by  hawking 

and  hunting ;  each  day,  howerer,  being  ushered  in  by  eocle- 

aiastioal  aolemnitiea,  and  followed  by  the  pleasures  of  the 

table.     On  theae  occasions,  says  our  minstrel, 

Ererich  maiden  chose  her  lore, 

Everieh  knight  his  lem 

Of  the  gentu  maiden  11 

Quy  had  taken  his  station  near  the  Earl,  when  he  receiTOd 
his  oiders  to  repair  to  the  apartment  of  Felice,  and  to  super- 
intend the  service  of  the  ladies  dnring  dinner,  '^th  this 
order  he  readily  compUed;  and,  being  clad  in  a  silken  kirtle 
which  showed  to  the  greatest  advantage  the  symmetry  of  his 
form,  acquitted  himseu  of  his  office  with  so  much  gnice  and 
Address,  as  to  captivate  the  afifections  of  all  the  beautiea  who 
behold  him,  ond  even  to  attract  the  notice  of  Felice  herself. 
Od  his  presenting  her  the  water  to  wash,  greeting  her  at  die 
Biuuo  time  on  the  part  of  her  &ther,  she  could  not  forbear 
tram  asking  his  name,  nor  fcaca  expressing  her  satis&etion  at 
the  sight  of  a  youtli  who  was  already  known  to  her  br  repu- 
tation. Guy,  gazing  <hi  his  beautiful  misb^ss,  whom  he  now 
saw  for  the  first  time,  almost  fOTgot  to  answer  the  encomiums 
she  paid  him,  and  was  utterly  inattentive  to  the  amorous 
glances  of  the  thirty  ladies  by  whom  he  was  snnounded. 

\\'hcn  it  became  necessary  to  take  his  leave,  he  hastened 
to  his  own  chamber  to  give  way  to  his  new  sensations;  and, 
perceiving  that  his  affections  were  unalterably  fixed  on  an 
object  which  he  suppoeed  it  utterly  impossible  to  attain,  gave 
luiKaelf  up  to  despair,  lliat  respect  for  his  lord  which 
■  Mutnst.    Sac  HalSmll's  DictionuT,  p.  513. 

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OUT  OT  WABWICK  103 

Segard  had  so  carefdUy  instilled  into  him,  forced  him  to  mffer 
in  ntenoe,  thtrngh  it  was  not  Bufficient  to  lepiess  the  pre- 
■amptttona  wiahee  he  had  formed.  The  distance  between  a 
TtMol  and  his  Buxerain  was  mch,  that  immediate  death, 
attended  with  every  circumstanee  of  ignominj,  might  pto- 
bably  succeed  the  avowal  of  hia  pasaion.  Me  therefore  Btnig- 
^ed  with  it  till  the  conelnsioa  of  the  festival;  when,  inca- 
pable of  subduing  a  sensation  which  graduaUy  nndennined 
nis  health  and  strength,  he  determined  to  declue  himself  to 
his  mistress,  and  to  receive  his  final  sentence  at  her  bands. 

Felice  having  retomed  an  answer  full  of  disdain,  the  nn- 
fortunate  Ouy  retired  to  hia  chamber,  detennined  to  make  no 
farther  efforts  for  the  preservation  of  a  life  which  he  consi- 
dered as  no  longer  of  any  value.     At  the  end  rf  seven  days 
and  seven  nights  his  dis^iso  had  increased  to  sneh  an  alarm- 
ing extent.  Suit  the  whole  court  were  thrown  into  conster- 
nation; and  Earl  Roband,  by  whom  be  was  tenderly  loved, 
dispatched  to  hi"  his  most  learned  leedies  (physicianB},  with 
orders  to  spare  no  pains  for  his  recovery, 
derkee  ben  to  him  y-go; ' 
Gny  they  find  black  and  bio  :* 
"nay  asked  him  where  his  evil  stode; 

Bat  Guy's  answers  being,  as  might  be  e^wcted,  enigma- 
tical, the  leechea  were  ntterly  unatde  to  alienate  a  com^aint 
with  whose  nature  and  origin  they  were  perfectly  unac- 
quainted, though  they  agreed  in  pn^nosticating  that  its  ter- 
mination would  be  speedy,  and  &tal. 

Fortunately  for  their  patient,  Felice  had  dreamed  a  dream, 
in  which  an  angel  had  appeared  to  her,  and  strictly  enjoined 
that  she  should  return  the  young  page's  afibction;  and  this 
vision  had  very  luckily  chosen  for  its  vidt  the  very  ni|^t 
when  Ouy,  thinking  himself  nearly  at  the  point  of  death,  had 
resolved  to  make  one  more  efEort,  and  either  to  procure  a 
more  gracious  answer,  or  to  expire  at  the  feet  of  his  mistreee. 

WiOi  great  labour,  and  after  frcqnent  ikinting  fits,  he  at 
lengtb  made  his  way  to  an  arbour  in  her  garden,  to  which  she 
habitually  resorted,  and,  after  making  her  a  long  and  pathetic 
address,  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  from  which  one  of  the  female 
attendants  of  this  haughty  beau^  with  difficulty  recovered  him. 
>  G«ne.  *  liTid. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


It4  ZABtT  SKOUBH  MXTBICjU.  BOHAITCBS. 

Ttiatmaid  yede  tohim  weepind. 
And  Onj  well  wire  bemened;' 
"Bj  God  of  heaven!"  she  said, 
Aa  ich  were  as  &ir  a  maid. 
And  M  rich  Icing's  daughter  were. 
Am  anjr  in  thii  world  are. 
And  be  of  my  lore  nnder.nome'  were, 
Aa  he  ia  of  thine,  in  strong  mannere. 
And  he  wold  me  so  lore  yeme,' 
He  think  I  no  might  it  mm  nou^t  wem!' 
Felice,  though  she  reproved  her  maid  for  a  &cility  which  is 
■onettmea  &tu  to  her  gez,  was  not  insensible  to  this  proof  of 
Qsjr'a  aSbction;  and  even  condescended  so  far  as  to  promise 
diat  when  he  should  have  received  the  order  of  Imignthood, 
and  proved  his  valour  in  a  suitable  nnmber  of  tounuunents 
KtA  rattles,  she  should  be  ready  to  avow  him  as  her  lover, 
aad  even  to  reward  him  with  the  present  of  her  hand. 

Hub  fovoiuable  answer  recalled  him  to  life;  and  the  no- 
Beas  of  his  convalescence  was  bo  rapid,  that  he  appeared  in  a 
nw  days  at  court,  to  the  astonidunent  of  his  Mends,  in  fiiQ 
health  and  strength;  and,  falling  on  his  knees  before  Bohand, 
earnestly  requested  to  be  admitted,  if  he  were  judged  worthy 
of  aiM^  an  honour,  to  the  order  of  koigfathood.  I^  earl 
nadily  aeeeded  to  his  wishes,  and  gave  onieta  foi  the  cde- 
hsalUD  of  Ae  ceremony  with  all  poaaible  solemni^  at  the 
'  'tgfbsliTaL 

It  was  the  holy  Trinit* 
The  eail  dubbed  Sir  Ouy  so  free: 
And  with  him  twenty  good  gomea,' 
Kiughtes  and  banmee  sons. 
Of  doth  of  Tan,*  and  rich  cendale,^ 
Was  the  dobbing  in  each  dele,* 
The  pavin*  all  of  fur  and  gris," 
The  mantels  were  of  micUe  price. 
With  rich  armour  and  good  stedis, 
Ihe  beet  that  were  in  land  at  nedis ; 

rndfrtaken,  Le.  occnpied  bf.     *  Eigerif.     •Wan, 
pnUbiL    •  Mn.     •  Thvvi.     '  A  •art  of  thick  lOk.     ■  In  vnrj  put. 
*  fMrtMH  ■  sort  of  ihort  doak  tkrnwc  anr  ttie  left  mn.     Pnois,  in  the 
FtSMb  actiiMUuies,  u  iiiterpictEdikmil  of  buckler  or  Urge  ■hiaU. 
"  Graf  far,  aal  in  tiIbs  to  crtnins. 

D,j„.„_,  Cookie 


SOT   l>»  WIXWICK.  195 

Better  tu  Sir  Oujr  y-digtit, 

Ulan  fas  woa  an  emperor's  boh,  I  pUf^t;' 

80  riclily  dubbed  as  was  he. 

Was  nerer  num  in  th&t  contree. 
Tbe  eeremony  over,  CSuy  himtened  to  Felice,  whom  he  now 
hoped  to  find  more  docile  to  his  wishes ;  but  the  lady  coolly 
obeoved  to  him  that  the  mere  name  of  knight  was  no  accea- 
Bon  of  merit,  and  that  before  he  could  claim  the  performanoe 
of  her  promise,  it  was  necesaory  that  he  should  Adfil  the 
conditions  on  which  it  was  made,  by  achieving  such  adren- 
tnree  as  should  render  him  worthy  of  her  afiecdon.  Sic  Guy, 
ftill  f£  submission,  again  retired;  and,  repeiring  to  his  &ther. 
Bonified  to  him  hia  intention  of  passing  without  delay  into 
foreign  oonntries,  for  the  purpose  of  ^vving  his  vslour.  Se- 
gord  could  not  refuse  his  consent  to  such  a  reasonable  pro- 
poaal;  but,  confiding  him  to  the  csre  of  tbe  raliant  Herand, 
to  whom  he  added  Sir  Thorold  and  Sir  TJny,  two  knights  of 
approrcd  -valour,  and  tsrigning  him  a  retinue  suitable  to  hia 
nnk,  and  a  consJdeTable  sum  of  money,  gave  him  his  paternal 
benedicticm,  and  dismissed  him. 

Sir  Guy  and  his  companions,  having  embarked  at  the 
neareat  port,  airived,  after  a  short  and  proeperoos  passage,  in 
Normandy,  and  proceeded  without  delay  to  ftonen,  the  capital 
of  the  province.  Obaenring  preparatiiMU  for  the  immediate 
oelehration  of  a  magnificent  feetiTal,  they  eommoned  their 
hoat,  to  inquire  the  news  of  the  place;  and  were  informed,  to 
their  gr^t  joy,  that  a  toomamait  had  been  proclaimed,  and 
was  to  be  holden  on  tbe  ((^lowing  day,  in  honour  of  Blancho- 
fleur,  a  maiden  of  exquisite  beauty,  dau^ter  of  Reigmer, 
emperor  of  Qerm&ny.  A  considenible  number  of  knights, 
alteady  rignalised  by  many  previous  exploits,  were  arrived 
Ar  the  puipooe  of  contendmg  for  tho  prue,  which  ctmaisted 
of  a  milk-white  fidcom,  a  white  horse,  and  two  white  grey- 
houada;  besides  which,  tbe  victor  became  entitled  to  daim 
the  hand  of  the  princess,  unless  he  should  have  prerioualy 
ftnam.  in  hia  own  counby,  the  lady  of  his  afibctiona. 

ffir  Quy,  who  was  overjoyed  at  this  intelliEenoe,  having 
flnt,  aooording  to  the  invari^le  custom  of  chiraby,  preeeated 
a  bMatifiil  pa&ey  to  his  host  as  a  reward  fitr  the  good  news. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


196  XABLT  EKOLIflH   KETBICAL  XOXAIT0E6. 

immediately  set  off  fbr  the  tonmameiit.  He  mioceaiiTCly 
orertfarew  Gaire,  the  boh  of  the  empeK^;  Otho,  dnke  of 
Pavia;  Reignier,  duke  of  Sessoyne  (Saxony);  the  duke  of 
Lowaync  (Lourain);  and  many  othen:  whfle  Herand,  Tho- 
rold,  and  Urrv,  on  their  parts,  distinguifihed  themselves  by 
unhorsing  their  several  antagonists.  On  the  two  following 
days  tlie  saperiority  of  Sir  Guy  was  no  loss  maniiesti  and  tit 
the  conclusion  of  the  tournament,  the  prise  was  unanimoualy 
allotted  to  the  roliant  knight  of  Warwick. 

With  that  came  a  sergeant  prickand,' 

Oentil  he  was,  and  well  speakai^ 

To  Sir  Guy  is  he  come. 

And  him  he  gret  atte  &ome.* 
•'  Thou  art  chosen  chief  in  price 

Of  all  this  country,  forsooth  iwis.* 

For  thou  hast  won  the  tournament, 

Idi  make  thee  here  this  present 

From  the  maiden  Blanche-fleor, 

Tliat  is  my  lordes  daughter  the  emperotiT. 

Tlie  ger-faulk,  and  the  steed  also. 

Hie  two  greyhounds  thereto. 

And  eke  her  love  with  them! 

But'  thou  hast  a  fiurer  lemman, 

^le  that  is  the  tower  within. 

To  day  thou  mayest  her  lore  win." 

Well  courteously  answered  Guy, 
"  Beau  aire,"  he  said,  "  giummercy ! 

Ich  underfong*  this  present. 

And  thank  her  that  thee  inther  sent 

Her  druerie*  ich  underlbng. 

Her  knight  to  be  witfaouten  wrong,"  kc. 
At  tiiie  same  time  he  presented  to  the  messeng^  a  rich  suit 
of  armour  and  a  sum  of  mon^,  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the 
beautiiiJ  Blanche-fleur,  and  (usmissed  hini :  after  which,  he 
dispatched  two  of  his  attendants  into  England,  with  orders  to 
eonunend  hjm  to  Sohand  and  his  bir  dauKhter ;  and  to  lay  at 
their  feet  the  trophies  of  his  victoiy.  Without  staying  any 
longer  in  Normandy,  he  proceeded  into  "  &r  lands,"  travelling 

■  Vainf  aoicUj.      *  Immediately.  A.  S.      •  Ccrtwnlf .     *  Unloa. 
*  Accept.  *  Frioidtliip.  A.  E. 

D,j„..;uL,Coo^|i: 


duougb  Spain,  Almayn,  Lombardy,  and  tlie  more  distant 
ports  of  Europe;  attending  crery  tournament;  gaining  the 
priie  in  all ;  and  establifdiing  his  fame  as  one  of  die  most 
valiant  and  accomplished  kmghts  in  Christendom.  At  the 
conclusion  of  a  yeai,  his  friend  Heraud  observed  to  him,  that, 
having  been  every  where,  he  might  now,  with  s  safe  con- 
science, return ;  xdA,  Quy  being  of  the  same  opinion,  it  was 
agreed  that  they  should,  on  tJae  next  jnoriung,  set  off  for 
Sigland,  for  the  purpose  of  showing. themselves  at  the  court 
of  Athelstan,  their  natural  sovereign. 

After  a  short  stay  in  London,  where  they  were  received 
with  the  greatest  kindness  by  the  Saxon  moimrch.  Sir  Guy 
and  his  companions  returned  to  Warwick,  to  the  great  joy  of 
Segard  and  his  wife,  who  had  been  long  impatient  to  biul  the 
arrival  of  a  son  whose  reputation  was  now  universally  esta- 
blished, Rohand  received  him  with  his  accustomed  kindness, 
and  all  his  court  vied  with  each  other  in  their  expressions  of 
gratulalion :  but  Ouy,  tearing  himself  firom  the  embraces  of 
his  frietads,  and  even  from  the  arms  of  his  parents,  eagerly 
sought  an  opportunity  of  throwing  himiwilf  at  the  feet  of 
Felice ;  from  whom  he  now  thought  himself  fully  justified  iu 
expecting  an  explicit  avowal  of  tendcmeeg. 

It  were  much  to  be  wished,  for  the  honour  of  the  wise  mas- 
ters of  Thoulouse,  that,  afW  instructing  the  hir  Felice  in  the 
■even  liberal  arts,  they  had  also  taught  her  the  art  of  know- 
ing her  own  mind.  But  her  scruples  were  not  yet  satisfied. 
She  represented  to  Sir  Guy,  that  he  had,  indeed,  obtained  a 
place  amongst  the  most  renowned  knights  in  Christendom, 
but  that  he  was  not  yet  universally  admitted  to  be  matchless 
and  unrivalled ;  and  that,  until  he  should  have  attained  the 
very  pinnacle  of  glory,  though  she  should  be  proud  to  acknow- 
ledge him  as  her  knight,  she  would  never  consent  to  give  him 
her  hand,  at  the  risk  of  plunging  him  in  sloth,  and  of  extra- 
goishing,  amidst  the  pleasures  of  marriage,  that  noble  spirit 
of  chivalry  by  which  he  was  so  much  endeared  to  her. 

Sir  Guy,  whose  education  had  not  been  so  scientific  as  that 
of  his  mistress,  was  unable  to  answer,  or  even  to  understand 
this  extreme  refinement :  but  he  was  a  lover,  and  he  felt  that 
bis  duty  was  implicit  obedience :  he  therefore,  aStet  remon- 
strating against  the  extravagance  of  her  expectations,  kissed 
her  htuid,  took  his  leave,  and,  hastetung  to  Eazl  Bohnnd, 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


198  EiBLX    EKOLIBH    XBTBICIX    SOKlirCEg. 

nqnested  his  pcnninion  to  bavel  in  "nncout])  laadi"   in 
■evch  of  military  glory. 

The  good  earl,  astonished  at  tliia  abrupt  and  unexpected 
lequeat,  after  bo  short  a  atajr,  urged  every  argninent  that 
auction  could  dictate  to  induce  him  at  least  to  delay  his 
departure ;  but,  finding  them  ineffectual,  relnctantly  g%Te  hia 
flonaent  to  a  measure,  t^  motiTcs  of  which,  as  he  could  not 
diicoTcr  them,  be  had  not  the  means  of  combating.  Sir  Ouy 
BOW  proceeded  to  bis  &thcr  and  mother  with  tiie  nme 
request;  which  be  prefaced  with  all  the  eloquent  ratamii^ 
suggested  by  Felice :  but  the  plain  sense  of  S4^;ard,  vbo  waa 
not  at  all  in  love,  and  whose  ambition  was  fiilly  aati'fftpdi 
eould  not  be  so  easily  perverted. 

"  Lief'  son,"  he  said,  "leave  that  thought! 

By  my  will  shalt  tbou  wend  nought. 

loon  shalt  lire  here  with  me ; 

All  the  blither*  will  we  be!" 
"  Leve  BtHi,"  his  mother  to  him  said, 
**  Do  thou  by  thy  Other's  rede !' 

Sojourn  with  us  evermo : 

I  rede  thee,  son,  that  it  be  so. 

Another  year  thou  might  over-bn :  * 

But  thou  bileve*.  I  die  with  care! 

For  we  ne  hare  sons  no  mo, 

Gif  thee  we  shaD  now  fiuvgo!" 
Tbese  tender  remonstfances  sunk  deep  into  the  heart  of 
Sb  Guy  ;  but  the  orders  of  his  inflexible  fitir  one  left  him  no 
alternative.  He  commended  bis  parents  to  Qod,  and  hurried 
from  their  presence.  Having  embarked  with  a  fair  wind,  ^ 
Ouy,  find  his  faithiul  attendants  Herand,  Thorold,  and  Uttj, 
arrived  in  Flanden ;  and  again  travelled  in  quest  of  adven- 
ture through  Spain,  Germany,  and  Lombordy,  bearing  away 
tile  priie  of  every  tournament,  and  in  every  country  coU' 
ciliating  the  sfiectims  of  the  inhabitants  by  numbericss  acta 
of  generosity.  But  in  returning  through  Italy  his  good  Ibr- 
tane  aband<med  him.  Merit  so  transcendent  could  not  bS  vS 
exciting  envy ;  and  a  severe  wound  which  he  received  in  a 
tonmament  at  Beneventum  having  in  a  great  measure  im- 
paired his  Etrsigth,  his  enemies  fiattered  themselves  with  the 
*OMr.        ■Hin«-        'Comiad.        'PMsoier.         'Bmsim 


L,  Cookie 


OCT  OF   WABWICK.  m 

hopes  of  accomplishinz  his  destruction,  and  laid  a  plot  Cv  tbe 
pilose,  the  success  of  which  was  judged  to  be  infallible. 

llic  reader  will  remember  that,  amongst  the  kni|rht8  whom 
Sir  Guy  overthrew  in  his  first  tournament  near  Rouen,  was 
Otho,  auke  of  Pavia.  This  felon  Duke  hod  ia  the  first  mo- 
ments of  his  disgrace  vowed  vengeance  against  his  conqueror ; 
and  having  witnessed  the  combat  near  Beneventum,  in  which 
Sir  Guy,  though  sucoeaeful,  was  dangerously  wounded,  con- 
ceived that  the  moment  was  now  arrived  when  he  might 
easily  get  his  enemy  into  his  power.  Being  apprised  of  the 
route  which  the  Euglish  knight  intended  to  take,  he  sent  for 
Earl  Lombard,  one  of  his  most  faitbJul  adherents,  together 
with  fifteen  other  knights  of  approved  courage,  and,  aft^ 
reminding  them  of  the  allegiance  which  they  had  sevend^ 
Bwom  to  him,  exacted  a  promise  that  they  would  obey  hu 
orders  in  a  point  which  was  cBsentinl  to  his  hapjnness.  He 
then  placed  them  in  ambush  in  a  wood  through  which  ^ 
Guy  was  obliged  to  pass,  and  directed  them  to  &11  on  him 
and  his  followers  by  surprise;  to  kill  his  attendants  without 
nercy ;  bat,  if  possible,  to  reserve  him  alive  for  the  purpoae 
of  undergoing  a  severer  and  more  lingering  punishmra)! 
The  Italian  blights  accepted  without  scruple  a  commianon 
iriiioh  th^  hoped  to  execute  without  danger. 

Now  comcth  Sir  Guy  riding. 

Upon  a  mulct  ambling. 

His  wound  him  grieveth  swithe  sore. 

And  smerte  him  ever  the  longer  the  more. 
'  In  peace  he  weened  for  to  wende ; 

Ac  of  the  traitour  Lumbards  unbend 

llie  helms  they  seyen  bright  shine, 

The  steeds  neighen  and  together  whine'. 
"  God!"  quoth  Guy,  "we  bwi  y.nomc*! 

AU  we  be  dead  through  treasoun!" 
But  Sir  Ouy  was  a  stranger  to  few ;  and  ibe  only  efE^  of 
a  danger  so  pressing  and  mimediata  was,  to  obliterate  in  a 
moment  the  sense  of  hispaip  and  infirmity.   Springing  lij^tly 

from  his  mule,  be  hastily  put  o:    ' '  '      '  '" 

&C8  the  enemy ;  while  lus  &ith 

e  by  ft  timely  retreat,  e 


m  his  mule,  be  hastily  put  on  his  armour,  and  pr^ared  to 
8  the  enemy ;  while  hu  faithful  attendants  in  vam  conjured 
It  to  save  his  life  by  ft  timely  retreat,  and  leave  than  to 


I  WUmtr  tad  atigli.  *  Ttkm. 

D,j,,..cjL,Goo^lc 


300  UJU.T  EITGLISH  HKTKICAL   SOMAHCSa. 

take  the  most  advantageoua  posiUou  they  could,  and  to  defend 
it  if  possible  againat  the  superior  numbed  of  their  ■— ailanta. 

With  that  come  a  Lombard  ride, ' 

A  moody  man,  and  fitll  of  pride. 
"Ouy,"  quoth  he,  "yield  thee  anon! 

Te  ben  dead  everidb  one! 

To  the  duke  we  han  truth  pli^t 

To  bring  him  thy  body  this  night." 

With  i^t  ilk  word,  well  smart 

Quy  him  smote  to  the  heart. 

Ne  spaired  he  for  no  dreed. 

But  dead  he  felled  him  on  the  mead. 
"  By  the  tmth  I  shall  my  lemman '  yield. 

To  day  nought  shall  thon  thy  truth  held ! " 

Another  Limibard  he  met  anon; 

Thnu^  the  body  the  sword  gan  gon. 
"  Nor  twni,  thou  traitor,  shalt  me  lead 

To  thy  doke  that  is  fall  of  quede."* 
Sir  Heraud,  Sir  Thorold,  and  Sir  Urry,  at  the  same  tinw 
UUed  the  three  kni^ta  who  were  c:f)posed  to  them;  but  the 
atontest  of  the  Lombards  stiD  remamed  behind.  Earl  Lom- 
bud,  their  leader,  attacked  and  slew  Sir  Urry,  but  was  bim- 
•df  killed  by  Sir  Guy.  Hugo,  n^ihew  to  Duke  Otbo,  makii^ 
a  fliriona  stroko  at  Sir  Thcwold,  Uid  him  dead  at  h^  horse's 

When  ^  Henud  he  saw  this, 
That  he  fell  down,  and  dead  he  is. 
For  his  death  he  was  sony; 
Him  to  awreke*  he  hath  great  hie.* 
Never  yet  so  eony  he  ne  was. 
Toward  Hngoun  be  made  a  nu;' 
As  a  hound  he  hied  him  last. 
Umi  his  prey  would  hare  in  haste, 
nmmgh  the  body  he  him  smot 
With  great  strowth.  God  it  wot. 
That,  before  the  Lombards  all. 
Off  his  hone  dead  he  gan  fall. 

■  Uoms  ridt,  i.e.  nde.    He  ■oxQlu?  jttbi  cone,  gin,  eaa,  &c..  woe 
OBoa  ia  mnirml  «e.         *  Uiatreu.         *  WickedDcn,  nil,  ninhicf. 
*  RsRaf*.  *  Jluto.  '  &  (wift  pM<k 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


OUT  or  wxBViCK.  201 

Unfortunsfety,  Sir  Gunter,  one  of  Otho's  most  formidable 
VniglitB,  seiziiiff  the  moment  when  HeiBud  was  o£F  hi*  guard, 
Btr^  him  sndi  a  desperate  blow,  that  h«  fell  bleeding,  and 
apparently  lifeless,  to  the  ground. 

Wben  Sir  Guy  saw  Heraud  y-feUd, 
To-hewen  his  faauberlc  and  his  ^eld;' 
And  off  his  horse  felled  he  wa«. 


Wonder  him  tliought ;  and  said  tho,* 
"  Thou !  lording !  to  thee  1  say, 

lliis  day  thou  shalt  well  sore  abcyci*! 

So  mote  ich  ever  word  y-speok, 

Hy  master's  death  ich  riiall  awreke. 

And  for  a  coward  ich  bc^d  tbec. 

That  stew  him,  and  let  me  be. 

^  him  that  made  sun  and  moon, 

Thon  shalt  it  wete*  swithc*  soon! 

And  tbon  shalt  y-boast  nought 

Hut  he  is  to  death  y-brDught.'' 
With  diese  words  Sir  Guy  spurred  his  steed,  who  msbcd 
on  his  enemy  with  such  velocity  "  that  fire  under  the  feet 
arose;"  and  so  terrible  was  the  blow  of  hia  rider,  that  Sir 
Qunter  instantly  sunk,  cloven  from  the  helmet  to  the  pummel 
of  the  saddle.  A  second  atrohe  of  bis  swcsd  took  off  the  head 
of  another  Lombard.  But  Guy  was  now  almost  fainting 
thnmeh  fiUip;ue  and  pain;  and  his  armour  was  so  completely 
hewed  to  pieces,  that  he  was  exposed,  almost  defenceless,  to 
the  anus  of  his  adversaries.  These,  indeed,  were  now  reduced 
to  two;  but  one  of  them  was  Guichard,  the  bravest  of  the 
Lomb^^  knights,  who  advanced  as  to  a  certain  victory.  Yet 
such  was  Sir  Guy's  superiority,  that  Guichard,  after  loaii^  his 
last  companion,  and  receiving  a  dreadful  wound,  was  f^aa  to 
be  indel^ed  to  the  unrivalled  swiftness  of  his  horse  for  hts 
escape  to  Pavia.  Duke  Otho  learnt  with  astonishment  and 
nge  the  escape  of  Sir  Guy,  and  the  destruotiDn  of  his  own 
kmghts ;  but  his  intended  victim  felt  deeper  anguish,  while  he 
Muveved,  on  the  field  of  battle,  the  bodies  of  those  fiiithful 
friends  who  had  feUen  in  his  defence. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


303  ZABLT  UfOLIBB  ICETSICAL   BOMAKCBS. 

"Alas!"  be  cried, 
"  -For  tliy  love,  Felice,  thou  fiur  may'. 
The  flower  of  knights  is  slaim  this  day! 
Yet,  for  thou  art  a  vonian. 
Canst  thou  nought  be  bUmed  for-thani> 
For  the  last  ne  be  we  nought. 
That  women  have  to  ground  y-brought!" 
Nothing,  certainly,  but  the  extremi^  of  distress  could  have 
wrung  &om  this  courteous  and  loyal  knight  a  sentiinent  so 
derogatoiy  to  the  honour  of  ladies;  but  it  is  to  be  remembered 
ibaX  Sir  Quy  was  deroted  and  condemned  to  the  search  of 
Boch  adventures,  against  his  own  wishes,  in  apposition  to  the 
will  of  his  guEeTain,Bnd  in  defiance  of  theremonstnuacesof  his 
]Mrents,  by  the  mere  caprice  of  bis  haughty  mistress.     Ihe 
virtues  of  Heraud  and  his  other  &ienda,  who  had  ibllowed  him, 
without  remonstrance  or  murmur,  throu^  so  many  mmecessary 
dangers;  the  friendly  expostulationB  of  Earl  Rohand;  and  the 
pathetic  complaints  of  Segard  and  his  mother,  at  once  asiul 
nim,  and  he  fidls  into  a  swoon,  exclaiming, 

"  Wboflo  nill  nought  do  by  his  bther's  rede. 
Oft  rithes  it  &lletb  him  quede!'" 
But  the  redeetian  occurred  too  late.  Aftcs*  many  froitlev 
hmentatiims,  he  went  in  search  of  a  hennit,  to  whom,  after 
making  him  a  prtmeeat  at "  a  good  at«ed,"  he  recommended  the 
bodies  of  Su-  Thorold  and  Sir  Uiry.  From  that  of  Heraud  he 
could  not  separata  himself;  he  therefore  placed  his  aged 
pfeeeptw  on  his  own  horae,  and  proceeded  dowly  with  him  to 
•  neighbouring  abb^ ;  where,  baring  related  to  the  abbot  the 
atmy  of  his  muAwtunes,  and  promised  a  liberal  remuneratiaD 
to  himself  and  his  brethren,  in  return  for  the  mo«t  honourable 
Inrial  that  they  oonld  bestow  on  his  friend,  be  consigned  the 


bis  wound  healed,  without  running  the  ri^  of  a  diseorery 
from  the  vigilant  nuHce  of  Duke  Otho.  As  soon  as  his  cure  was 
eoBtpteted  he  passed  into  Pole  (Apulia),  and  from  thence  into 
Saxouy,  the  residence  of  Dnkeiteignier.  by  whom  be  was  meat 
hoqiitably  and  hoRonnbly  received.  After  this,  meaning  to  le- 
tan  Btrai^t  to  England,  he  travels  into  Burgundy,  then  so- 
■BtO. 


uL,  Google 


etrx  OF  WjIrwioz.  309 

Tamed  br  duke  Hilon,  wliere  he  dirtinguiAea  UmBelf  in  TtJowr, 
aadliis  liberality  to  poor  knights  and  to  captives.  During  his 
reaidence  in  this  country  he  discovers,  to  his  inezprasnUe 
jay,  hia  frieod  Heniud  disgoKed  as  a  palmer. 

Tlie  abbot,  of  whom  ich  ent  have  telld, 

Herkand  with  great  ruth  beheld. 

He  did  bearen  hie  bodey 

Into  a  chamber  to  dittairay. 

A  monk  of  the  bouse  beheld  him 

Bodv  and  hered,  and  each  limb; 

TkiUce  monk  a  surgeon  was. 

The  virtne  he  knew  of  many  a  grais. 

The  wound  he  beheld  stead&stUoli, 

That  in  his  body  was  grieslich;' 

By  the  wounde  he  saw,  iwis. 

That  to  death  wounded  be  nis;* 

And  saw  that  he  him  heal  might. 

And  so  be  did  iuU  well,  I  jdight. 
Herand,  indeed,  was  etill  weak  and  poor;  but  Sir  Chiy, 
taking  him  np  behind  him  on  his  horse,  nud  conveying  bini  to 
an  adjoiiking  city,  soon  supplied  all  bis  wants. 
Herand,  without  long  rest. 
Was  clothed  and  baUied  with  the  best: 
'White  cloths  of  silk,  and  mantles  fine, 
Funed  with  gris,*  and  good  ermine. 
He  two  friends  then  take  leave  of  Duke  Hflon,  pass  thnM|^ 
Flanders,  and  arrive  at  St.  Omers.     Here,  while  Sir  Ony  is 
looking  out  of  the  window  at  his  win,  he  sees  a  palmer,  whom 
he  questions  about  news.      The  palmer  tells  him  that  the 
rich  emperor  (Reignier)  has  besieged  Segwin,  duke  of  Lavayne 
(Louvain),  and  laid  waste  his  country,  in  consequence  of  his 
having  slain,  in  a  tournament,  Sadoc  the  emperor's  cousin,  ly 
whom  he  had  been  tauntingly  provoked  to  combat.     6^;win, 
after  the  event,  bod  fled  to  his  strong  city  of  Seysone  (8oi- 
Bsons  ?) ;  which,  however,  he  despaired  of  being  long  able  to 
defend  against  the  superior  ftn^^e  of  the  emperor. 

Sir  Ouy,  by  the  advice  of  Heiaud,  levies  a  small  army  of 

fifly  knights,  marches  to  the  asfiistanoe  of  S^win,  and  eutrav 

Uie  ci^  nnperceired  by  the  enemy.     On  the  following  miaa- 

'  Honifale.  *  Is  not.  *  A  vgrr  cottljr  (or. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


204  EklLLY    ENGLISH    KETSICAI,    BOMAKCEH. 

ii^,  after  hearing  mass,  he  saUiea  out,  attacks  the  imperul 
axmj  which  was  conducted  by  the  emperor's  steward,  over- 
throwB  him,  and  mokes  him  prisoner,  together  with  a  conu- 
derable  number  of  earls,  barons,  and  other  pcreoiu  of  distincti<Mi. 
The  emperor,  on  receiving  the  news  of  this  unexpected  defeat, 
■ununons  a  council,  at  which  it  is  determined  to  send  Otho 
the  "felon  duke"  of  Pa^ia,  tegether  with  Reignier,  duke  of 
Saxony,  and  the  constable  Wondomire  of  Cologne,  at  the 
head  oi  thirty  thousand  men,  to  renew  the  siege.  An  obstinate 
battle  ensues,  in  which  a  kmght  in  the  imperial  army,  Thierry 
of  Ourmoise,  son  of  Earl  Aubry,  performs  prodigies  of  valour. 
But  nothing  can  withstand  the  invincible  Guy  of  Warwick. 
Duke  Otho,  severely  wounded,  is  with  difficulty  carried  off  by 
his  men,  and  Reignier  and  Wandomire,  after  Qie  total  rout  6t 
their  troops,  are  made  prisoners. 

The  emperor  now  marchca  in  person,  at  the  head  of  a  still 
huger  army;  but  his  sou  Oaire  (who  had  already  been  un- 
horsed by  Sir  Guy  at  his  first  feat  of  arms  at  Rouen)  is  again 
vanquished  by  him  and  carried  into  the  town  :  and  an  assault 
undertaken  in  his  &ther  for  his  recovery  having  proved  un- 
Buecesaful,  the  siege  is  converted  into  a  blockade. 

This  eventfiil  conflict  between  the  head  of  the  empire  and 
his  disobedient  vassal,  is  terminated  by  a  scene  which  strongly 
noariis  the  singular  spirit  of  chivalry.  Tlie  emperor,  to  amuse 
himself  during  the  state  of  inaction  to  which  he  is  reduced, 
goes  a-hunting  in  the  forest,  and  in  Hub  de&nceleas  sltuatiaD 
IS  surprised  by  Sir  Quy,  who  with  an  ohve-bianch  in  his  hand 
thus  addresses  him: 

Ouy  said,  "God,  that  is  fiill  of  might, 

Save  thee,  sire,  gentil  knight ! 

And  give  thy  men  hap  and  grace. 

Well  to  rede'  thee  in  this  place! 

Duke  Segwin  sendeth  me  to  thee. 

That  in  good  manner  wiU  love  thee. 

With  glaid  cheer  he  prayeth  you 

To  herborrow'  with  nim  now; 

He  shall  you  welcome,  and  your  barons, 

Widi  swans,  cranes,  and  herons. 

And  make  you  right  well  at  ease. 

Tlieae  words,"  quoth  Ouy,  "  be  no  lese  ;■ 
>AMm.  ■  Hutear  or  todp.  ■  FilMbnod. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


oirr  OF  ■wxxwjcx.  206 

Duke  Segwin  will  yield  to  tliee 
His  castle  and  his  good  cit^. 
And  nil  his  Undes,  loud  and  sdll,' 
And  himself  at  your  own  wilL 
Therefore,  sire,  I  wame  yow. 
To  him  ye  must  with  me  now; 
For  what  more  can  he  to  thee  do 
Ulan  thus  meekly  send  thee  to  i" 

All  resistance  being  bopeleea,  the  emperor,  by  the  advice  of 
his  borons,  quietly  accompanied  his  conqueror  into  the  citjr; 
where,  though  a  prisoner,  he  was  receiTcd  aa  a  matter,  and 
was  served  with  Uie  greatest  humility  by  Sir  Ouy,  and  by  all 
Segwin's  adherents.  In  the  morning  he  heard  mass.  Segwin 
in  the  mean  time  had  abstained  from  appearing  in  his  pre- 
sence; and  having  summoned  all  his  prisoners,  earnestly 
requested  their  intercession  to  obtain  his  royal  master's  fbr- 
prenees.     This  they  readily  promised;  and  then 

The  duke  yede  to  the  chamber  anon ; 

Off  he  did,  withouten  oaths, 

His  wede,'  save  his  linen  clothes. 

Both  barefoot  and  naked  yede*  he. 

In  hand  a  branch  of  olive  tree : 

And  when  be  came  to  the  empcronr. 

He  f^  on  his  knees  with  great  dolour,* 

And  said,  "  Sire,  mercy  1  certain 

I  will  no  more  war  thee  again! 

For  that  I  hare  ^ered  thee  ill, 

I,  and  all  mine,  is  at  thy  will!" 

Gaire,  and  all  the  prisonera,  who  were  become  sincerely 
attached  to  Seewin  in  consequence  of  the  kindness  with  whiui 
be  had  treated  them  during  their  captivi^,  join  their  praters 
to  those  of  those  of  the  repentant  duke,  and,  having  obtained 
his  pardon,  thank  the  emperor  on  their  knees.  Sir  Ouy  ex- 
presses his  gratitude  in  the  same  humble  posture.  This 
luqipy  reconciliation  is  celebrated  with  all  kinds  of  festivity, 
and  confirmed  by  a  double  marriage;  the  Duke  of  Saioay 
being  wedded  to  the  sister  of  Segwm,  and  Segwin  to  a  niece 
of  the  emperor.  Sir  Ouy,  after  rendering  these  important 
1  BTarjwIure.        ■  Dreii.        *  Vent.        *  Qricf. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


SM  EAXLT  BNOUSH  MBTKICAL  XOMAHCEfl. 

■errioes  to  hu  friend,  takes  leave  of  him,  and  departs  in  tlie 
en^eior's  enite. 

There  was  he  with  the  eroperour, 

A  little  etoond,'  with  gieat  honour. 

Hi^  riTered*  their  falcons. 

And  took  cranes  and  herons; 

And  when  Guy  wonld  in  forest  chase. 

His  will  he  had  in  every  place. 

So  it  befell,  upon  a  day, 

Aa  Sir  Ou^  came  fiom  his  play. 

From  hunting  as  he  came  nding. 

He  saw  a  dormound'  come  sailuig: 

To  that  dormound  anon  drew  he. 

It  seema  to  have  been  an  essential  da^  of  chivalry  to  omit 

BO  (^iportunity  of  asking  questions.     Sir  Quy  interrc^tes  tlie 

Hunnera  of  die  vessel,  and  is  informed  that  they  come  from 

CoaBtantiiiople;  that  their  cargo  consists  of  plenty  of  mer- 


Bich  pelour,  ermine  and  gris, 

Cloths  of  silk  and  Alisaonder,' 

And  matres,  ^  also  salimander,^ 
but  that  it  brings  very  bod  news.     The  Qreek  emperor  Emis 
ii  besieged  in  his  capital  by  the  sondaa  with  an  army 

Of  thirty  thousand  Potelynea, 

And  so  many  Sarasins. 
And  when  the  vessel  came  away,   the  situation  of  the 
besieged  was  considered  as  nearly  desperate. 

Sir  Guy,  having  consulted  with  Heraod,  detennines  to  levy 
IB  army  of  a  thousand  kui^ts.  the  bravest  that  eotdd  be 
tband  in  Almayne,  and  to  march,  without  delay,  to  the  lelief 
of  tbe  distressed  emperor.  The  reputation  of  Sir  Guy  was 
MW  ao  well  established,  that  laige  as  this  number  was,  it  was 
immediately  collected  and  emtmrked;  and  Sir  Quy  was  re- 
oeiTed  with  transports  of  joy  by  the  good  Emis,  who  pnuniaed 
bim,  as  a  reward  for  this  timely  and  effectual  succour,  dw 
band  irf  his  daughter,  die  heiress  of  iho  Greek  empire. 

The  danger,  indeed,  was  pressing;  for  at  this  very  momotl^ 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


OUT  or  irABwicK.  207 

CoUnm,  consiii  to  tlu  Bondan,  the  most  fimnidable  general  ia 
die  Somoen  umy,  hod  commenced  an  attack  npon  tlie  mils 
wUoh  the  garrison  wtm  nnaUe  to  repel.  Sir  Qaj  salliea  out 
with  iua  kniehts;  cuts  his  iray  through  the  army  of  the 
■awilanto;  kiUs  Coldran;  and  mortally  wounds  Askefdart,  the 
Moond  in  command,  who  only  Uvea  to  carry  the  account  of 
dds  defeat  to  the  chief  of  the  Saracens.  The  Boudan,  incenaed 
but  not  intimidated  by  the  ill  auccess  of  this  partial  attempt, 
determiaea  to  assault  the  city  in  finu  days  at  the  head  of  all 
hisfiiroee. 

In  the  mean  time  Sir  Ouy  is  on  the  point  of  becoming  the 
victim  of  an  intrigue  contrived  by  (Hie  of  his  own  kn^ta. 
Among  the  Qennan  nobles  whom  he  had  selected  on  account 
rf  their  valour,  was  Sir  Morgadour,  steward  to  the  emperor 
ct  Germany.  This  man,  having  seen  the  Princess  Loret, 
became  enamoured  of  her  bean^;  and  immediately  resolved, 
if  possible,  to  wrest  her  hand  and  the  crown  of  Constantinople 
from  Sit  Ghiy,  whom  he  considered  as  an  inferior,  although 
he  was  willing,  on  account  of  his  military  talents,  to  fi^t 
under  his  banners.  But,  being  aware  tlut  the  emperor's 
word  had  been  passed  to  his  rival,  it  was  necessary  to  have 
recourse  to  artifice.     He  therefore  contrived  the  following 


One  day,  when,  the  emperor  was  gone  a- rivering,'  he  proposed 
to  Sir  Ouy  to  play  a  game  at  chess  wiiit  him  in  the  aparbnent 
of  the  princess;  to  which  the  knight,  not  suspecting  any 
treachery,  readily  consented.     On  their  arrival, 

Guy  gret  that  maid  full  courteously; 

Hie  maid  says,  "  Welcome,  Sir  Ctny !" 

Guy  took  that  maiden  in  aims  two; 

With  lovely  cheer  he  kist  her  the. 
After  diis  pre&ce,  Sir  Morgadour  and  Sir  Qny  play  thair 
game  at  chess,  in  which  ibe  knight  of  Warwick  is  Tictoriooa; 
and  his  antagonist,  under  some  triflii^  pretext,  leaves  him 
with  the  princess;  takes  horse;  goes  to  meet  the  emperor  <m 
Us  return  from  the  chase ;  and  accuses  Sir  Guy  at  an  attempt 
to  debancli  the  virtne  of  the  beautiful  Loret.  Emis,  however, 
refuaea  to  believe  thai  his  deliverer  can  have  formed  a  plan  of 
coTTUpdug  a  woman  whose  hand  was  already  pledged  to  him, 
'  HivkiDi  by  the  lade  of  the  tirtr. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


206  EAST.T   ENGLISH  KETBICAL  BOMAIICES. 


and  totally  diMredita  the  accasation;  upon  vfaich,  the  enftj 
Oemuui  retuma  to  Sir  Ouy,  laments  tne  blsehood  and  tiea- 
cheiy  of  mankind,  and  aasnres  Mm  that  the  emperor,  on  the 

Sunds  of  this  ridiculous  story,  is  determined  to  put  him  to 
th.  Sir  Guy  becomes  the  dupe  of  the  artifice ;  is  filled 
with  indignatian  at  the  treachery  of  Ernis;  summons  his 
kni^ta;  and  is  preparing  to  go  over  to  the  Saracens,  when  he 
meets  the  emperor;  and,  coming  to  an  explanation  with  him, 
is  made  acquainted  with  the  malice  of  Sir  Moreadonr. 

Sir  Ouy,  having  learned  by  means  of  spies  ue  intention  of 
die  eondan  to  assault  the  town,  determines  to  meet  the  enemy 
in  the  field,  instead  of  waitii^  their  attack.  Having  explored 
the  neighbouring  mountains,  he  takes  poet  in  a  spot  strongly 
fortified  by  nature,  and  which  he  rendew  by  his  precantions 
nearly  impregnable.  There  he  resists  the  whole  eSbrta  of  the 
Saracens;  and,  alter  a  long  and  obstinate  conflict,  completely 
dispenes  their  army.     In  the  course  of  the  battle. 

Cart  wheels  Guy  let  take; 

And  good  engines  he  let  make. 

The  engines  were  bo  sore  castasd,' 

Hut  to  the  Saracens  they  came  near-hand. 

Hierewith  he  emote  them  in  sunder; 

80  sore  they  threw  that  it  was  wonder: 
.  Hony  a  hill  they  threw  down, 

Hiat  congealed  was  with  stones  brown. 
Fifteen  acres  were  covered  with  the  bodiee  of  slau^tered 
Saracens:  and  so  furious  were  the  strokes  of  Sir  Ouy,  ttiat  the 
pile  of  dead  men.  wherever  his  sword  had  reached,  rose  as  hi^ 
as  his  breast.  The  soudan,  too  much  incensed  to  ntuoa  very 
coolly,  attributed  a  defeat  so  miraculous  to  the  snpinene«  or 
sti^idi^  of  his  tutelary  deities,  on  whom  he  revenged  him- 
self by  burning  some  and  throwing  others  into  the  aea;  while 
the  good  Ernis  was  rejoicing  at  nis  delivery,  and  testifying 
hi£  gratitude  by  heaping  honours  and  riches  on  the  hero  of 
Warwick. 

Sir  Moigadour  has  now  recourse  to  a  fresh  artifice.  Being 
aware  that  the  soudan  had  ewom  to  destroy  every  Christian 

who  should  either  fall  into,  or  un\ " 

his  power,  he  suggests  to  £mis  s 

1  Fordblj  llinnra. 


giiizcdt*  Google 


tioualy  adopts.  Having  assembled  His  parliament,  he  oh- 
Mires  "  that  the  eoudan  is  collecting  a  fresh  anny,  for  the 
purpose  of  renewing  his  lonnidsble  attacks  on  the  Chrietian 
powers ;  that  a  war  with  such  an  enemj  could  afford  no  pro- 
qiect  of  its  termination ;  that  it  were  highly  important  to  find 
some  means  of  bringing  it  to  a  speedy  issue;  and  that,  with 
tluB  view,  it  would  be  proper  to  propose  the  final  decision  of 
the  qnarre)  by  a  single  combat  between  two  persons,  who 
should  be  nominatttd  as  the  respective  champions  of  the 
ChristianB  and  Saracens."  He  concludes  by  asking,  "whether 
any  person  is  willing  to  become  the  bearer  of  this  proposal  to 
the  soudan?"  All  ore  silent,  until  Sir  Guy  of^  Warwick, 
starting  from  his  scat,  demands  to  be  sent  on  this  perilous 
adventure.  The  emperor,  alarmed  at  the  danger  of  losing 
his  intended  son-in-law,  assures  him  that  this  proposal  was 
only  intended  by  him  as  a  trial  of  the  fidelity  and  spirit 
of  enterprise  which  prevailed  in  the  assembly;  and  conjures 
him  to  forego  an  enterprise  in  which  the  most  invincible 
strength  and  courage  must  prove  useless.    Quy  is  inflexible; 

Gny  asked  his  arms  anon; 

Hoscn  of  iron  Guy  did  upon : 

In  his  hauberk '  Guy  him  clad; 

He  drad*  no  stroke  while  he  it  had. 

Upon  his  head  his  helm  he  cast, 

And  hasted  him  to  ride  Ml  fiist. 

A  circle  of  gold  thereon  stood; 

The  emperor  had  none  so  good. 

About  tie  circle,  for  the  nonce. 

Were  set  many  precious  stones. 

Above  he  had  a  coat-armour  wide ; 

His  Bword  he  took  by  his  side. 

And  leapt  upon  his  steed  anon, 

Btimip  with  foot  touched  he  none. 

Guy  rode  forth,  without  boast, 

Alone  to  the  soudan's  host. 

Out  saw  all  that  countree 

FnU  oftents  and  pavilions  be; 

On  the  pavilion  of  the  soadsn 

Stood  a  carbuncle  stone. 

■CostgfnislL  'DnsM. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


KSTBICAX  SOXUTOBS. 

Ou;  wist  dieretiT  it  was  tbe  sondon's, 
And  drew  him  tnithcr  for  tbe  nonce. 
At  th«  meat  he  foniul  the  Mudan, 
And  his  barons  erery  one ; 
And  ten  kings  about  him  i 
All  they  were  stont  and  grim. 
Ouy  rode  forth,  and  spake  no  word 
Till  he  came  to  the  loudan's  bord. 
He  ne  saugtt  with  whom  he  met; 
But  on  this  wise  the  soudan  he  grct;— 
*'  Lord  that  abope '  both  beat  and  cold. 
And  all  this  worid  hath  in  hold. 
And  suffered,  on  cross,  passions  fell,' 


And  all  that  lieven*  on  Mahonn! 
God's  cime  have  thee  and  thine. 
And  all  that  lieve  on  Apolyn!" 

The  Bondao,  being  utterly  unprepared  with  an  answer  to  a 
mode  of  addreso  so  very  nnnsunl  at  bis  board,  did  not  attempt 
to  interrupt  Sir  Ouy  during  the  remainder  of  his  message, 
which,  having  first  satisfied  his  feelings  by  the  foregoing  ezor. 
dium,  he  proceeded  to  deliver  very  minutely,  and  with  doe 
attention  Co  decorum.  At  length,  however,  the  monarch  re- 
covered the  power  of  speech  so  far  as  to  inquire  the  name  of 
his  insolent  visitant;  and  to  direct,  after  hearing  it,  that  Guy 
of  Warwick  should  instantly  be  seized  and  put  to  death. 
But  Guy,  not  at  all  disconcerted  by  an  order  which  it  was 
much  easier  to  ^nmounce  than  to  execute,  rushed  on  the 
Hondan,  cut  off  his  head,  deliberately  picked  it  up  with  one 
hand,  while  he  slew  half  a  dozen  of  Saracens  with  the  other, 
and,  setting  spurs  to  his  horse,  made  hia  way  through  the 
camp,  though  assailed  on  all  sides  by  the  enemy. 

Durii^  mis  time  Heraud  was,  very  fortunately,  asleep  in 
Constantinople ;  and  thereby  had  the  means  of  being  apprised, 
by  a  vision,  of  the  danger  to  which  his  friend  was  exposed. 
He  instantly  rose,  assembled  the  German  knights,  and  i«lated 
his  dream;  on  the  faith  of  which  they  sallied  forth,  and,  fol- 
lowii^  the  direct  road  to  tlie  Saracen  camp,  arrived  just  in 

'  Made;  sliced.      *  Sbii]);  keen.      ■  Mikilictia&.      *  Belierr. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


6U5    or  WASWICX.  211 

time  to  reoene  Sir  Otty,  who,  nearij'  orercome  hy  fiitigne, 
letoraed  with  them  in  trium^  to  the  citf ,  snd  presented  to 
the  nsfamished  Emis  the  head  of  his  haughty  antmnist. 

Soon  after  this  perilous  exploit,  Enua  proceed  with  Sii 
Gi^  on  ft  circuit  through  his  dominiona.  Dniing  their  maxA 
ihej  becmue  ipectatora  of  a  dretdftil  combat  between  «  lioa 
and  s  dragon.  Guy  felt  an  irreeietible  immilae  to  take  a 
diare  in  the  conflict;  assailed  the  dragon,  and  laid  him  dead 
at  his  feet.  The  lion  immediately  exprewed  his  gratitHd* 
to  his  ally,  licked  hit  feet,  fiiwned  on  him  like  a  doe,  and 
became,  from  that  moment,  his  moat  officious  and  a&otuinate 
attendant. 

The  good  emperor  Erais,  more  and  mtg^  astonished  at  the 
valour  and  prudence  ctf  Six  Guy,  at  lei^th  formally  prt^xnca 
to  him  the  hand  of  the  accomplished  Loret;  which  was  ao- 
oepted  without  hesitation,  and  a  day  fixed  for  the  wedding. 
If  the  reader  has  not  yet  foigotten  the  aU-accomphdied 
Felice,  the  daughter  of  the  Earl  Bohand,  it  is  probably 
because  the  laborious  campaigns  in  Germany  and  in  TvAej 
have  not  occupied  in  the  recital  quite  so  much  time  as  they 
GOnsmned  in  the  acting.  Certain  it  is  that  the  hero  of  War- 
wick, baaished  during  so  many  years  from  his  native  counby, 
and  constantly  busied  in  the  most  arduous  and  important  oe- 
ei^atitma,  had  lost  all  recollecticm  of  the  object  Sot  whom  he 
was  first  induced  to  eactifice  bis  time  aad  health  and  comfM. 
Enia,  therefore,  taking  bis  dan^iter  by  the  hand,  in  the  pra- 
Moce  rf  all  the  princes,  duke«,  earia,  banau,  ardibittapi^ 
abbots,  amd  priors  of  ConstantiBopk,  d^vcred  her  over  to 
8ir  Gt^,  together  with  the  investitiire  of  half  hia  empin,  ^ti 
the  ptmnise  of  the  remainder  after  his  decease. 

Ihii  the  sight  of  the  wedding-ring  suddenly  bro^^t  YmA. 
to  the  memo^  of  Sir  Guy  the  image  of  bis  first  niabasa. 

Ihe  wedding  ring  was  fivth  braoj^; 

Guy  then  <m  bir  Fdice  tbovght- 

He  had  her  ni^  foisotten  <£aal 
'Alas! "be said,  "Fehce  thesKsen!"' 

And  thought  in  his  heart  amm, 
"  Against  thee  now  have  Imisdoae!" 

Guy  said,  "Penance  I  osve: 

None  otber  maid  my  love  shall  have!" 

p  2 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


2I2         '  ziALT  sxauaH  ihtbical  boiuncks. 

He  then  fell  into  a  swoon ;  and,  on  his  recove^,  begged  to 
defer  the  marriage,  and  retired  to  his  inn,  where  he  re- 
mained during  B  fortnight  confined  to  his  bed,  in  great 
BDguish  of  mind  and  body,  to  the  cstreme  distress  of  Ernie, 
of  Loret,  of  Hemud,  and  of  the  lion,  none  of  whom  were  at 
all  able  to  account  for  his  ill.timed  and  unexpected  malady. 
At  length  he  reveals  the  secret  of  his  heart  to  Heraud,  who 
at  first  recommenda  the  completion  of  bin  inamoge  with 
Loret;  bnt  at  length  acquiesces  in  his  determination  of  sacri- 
ficing to  the  original  object  of  his  passion  the  possession  of  a 
yoin^er  and  more  beautiful  woman,  together  with  the  richest 
empire  in  the  uniTerse. 

At  the  fortnight's  end  Guy  returns  to  court,  where  he  is 
much  embarrDBsed  by  the  kindness  of  Emis  and  the  tender 
affbction  of  Loret,  to  which  he  feels  himself  unable  to  make  a 
poper  return.  From  this  very  awkward  situation  he  was  at 
length  lelieved  by  an  unexpected  accident.  The  lion,  who 
owed  his  life  to  the  matchlees  intrepidity  of  Sir  Quy,  had  gra- 
dually familiarised  himself  with  ail  the  personages  at  ihe 
court  of  Etnis;  and  seemed  to  prefer,  no  leas  firam  taste  than 
gratitude,  a  life  of  tranquillity  at  Constantinople  to  a  series  of 
contests  with  dragons  in  tlie  wilderness.  One  day,  while 
quietly  sleeping  in  an  herber,  he  wts  mortally  wounded  by 
Sir  Morgadoiir.  Hie  blow  was  so  sudden  and  so  well  aimed 
that  the  fiiithiid  animal  was  scarcely  able  to  reach  the  cham- 
ber of  Sir  Ouy,  where  he  expired  at  his  master'sfeet:  but  Sir 
HoTgadour  had  been  remarked  by  a  damsel  of  the  court,  who 
hastened  to  report  this  act  of  cruelty  and  treachery;  and  the 
beio  of  Warwick,  though  he  had  borne  his  own  wrongs  with 
patience,  instantly  revenged  the  blood  of  hia  fevourite  by  that 
of  the  assassin.  The  death  of  a  person  of  so  much  importance 
U  the  steward  of  the  Qerman  emperor,  though  certainly 
merited,  was  likely  to  involve  the  good  Emis  in  a  very  dis- 
Bgieeable  altercation  with  a  powerful  sovereign;  and  Sir  Out, 
^bdh  availing  himself  of  tnis  excuse,  determined,  notwith- 
■tantiing  the  intreatiea  of  Ernis  and  Loret,  to  abandon  fbr 
ever  the  court  of  Conatantinople. 

Having  embayed  on  board  of  the  first  ship  which  he  could 
find,  he  was  carried  by  accident  to  the  dominions  nt  the  Em- 
peror Reignier,  to  whom  he  paid  a  ehtat  visit,  without  at  all 
Boticuig  l£e  hUttny  UC  S&t  Hoigadour,  and  from  thence  puaed 


J  L,  Google 


into  Lorraine,  with  the  intention  of  proceeding  with  >n  pos- 
■ible  baste  to  Enf^land. 

One  day,  traT^ling  thnn^h  a  forest,  haying  sent  forward 
hifl  attendants  to  the  next  town,  for  the  purpose  of  mwUng 
preparations  for  his  reception,  he  hears  a  voice  of  lamentation, 
and  finds  a  knight  dang^misly  wounded.  Tliig  appears  to  be 
Sir  Thierry,  who  hod  loi^  served  in  the  armies  of  the  doke  of 
Lorraine,  m  consequence  of  an  attachment  to  the  fair  Osile, 
the  daughter  of  that  sovereign ;  bvt  through  the  treache^  of 
Otho  of  Pavia,  his  rival,  he  had  been  beset  by  fifteen  soldiers 
while  carrying  off  his  mistress  with  her  own  consent,  end  had 
fallen  eorered  with  wounds,  the  anguish  of  which,  however, 
was  less  intolerable  to  him  than  the  loss  of  his  fair  and  tender 
Osile,  whom  the  aasaaains  hod  torn  from  him,  and  were  then 
conducting  to  the  arms  of  the  felon  Otho.  Sir  Thierry  cod- 
dudee  his  relation  by  requesting  that  Sir  Gny  would  in  due 
time  procure  ibr  him  the  rites  of  burial;  and  that  he  would, 
in  the  mean  while,  spare  no  pains  ffM*  the  rescue  of  the  lady. 
Sir  Guy  is  astonished  at  the  propensity  of  his  old  enemy 
Otho  to  quarrel  with  all  worthy  knights:  but  he  has  no  time 
for  reflection.  He  snatches  vf  the  sword  and  shield  of  ffir 
Thierry;  puisnes  the  ravishers;  kills  them  all;  takes  the  Udy 
before  him  on  his  horse,  and  returns  with  her  to  the  plaM 
where  he  had  just  left  her  lover.  But  her  lover  had  in  his 
bun  disappeared.  Incapable  of  resistance,  he  had  been  Sfised 
and  carried  off  by  four  knights  in  the  service  of  Otho.  ffir 
Ony,  leaving  Osile,  follows  the  trace  of  these  knights,  over- 
takes and  vanquishes  them,  and  returns  with  Sir  Thieny. 
But  DOW  Osile  was  again  missing.  Fortunately  she  wai  no 
longer  in  the  power  of  her  ravishers.  Tlie  attendants  of  Si 
Guy,  returning  from  (he  town  in  search  of  their  master,  had 
foimd  her,  and  carried  her  in  safety  to  his  inn.  whither  Sir 
Guy,  attor  a  long  and  fruitless  search,  carries  Sir  Tlierry,  and 
the  lovers  are  reunitod.  Sir  Guy  procures  a  leech  to  cure  the 
wounded  knight,  who  vows  etenial  friendship  and  aXiepoitoe 
to  his  deliverer. 

So  it  befeU,  upon  a  day. 

As  Sir  Got  at  the  window  lay. 

And  Sir  Tnicrry  lay  him  by. 

In  the  street  they  saw  a  kni^^t  weary. 

D,j„.„^L,  Google 


S14  XAKtT   BXOLIIH  MXTKIOAL  KOKAJTCBI. 

"  Bir  Itni^t,"  qwKh  Guy.  "  I  pny  tliee. 
What  seckest  thou  in  this  countree  ? " 

"  Sir,  I  toek  Tliieny  of  Gunnoise — " 
Be  waa  come  to  tell  him  that  Loyer,  duke  of  Lamme,  aad 
Ae  felon  Otho  of  Pavia,  had  detennined  to  lay  mate  tin 
paweMJoni  of  Aubty,  'nuerry's  bther,  in  revenge  of  his  aon'i 
■ueoGMftil  [MMitm  for  Oiile.  Sir  Gay,  of  courae,  embraces  die 
nww  of  hi*  brotber-ia-anits;  aends  into  Ahnayne  an  invita- 
tioa  to  all  valiant  kni^ta;  dram  five  hundred  of  them  to  hia 
Mudard,  and  repain  with  them  and  Thiory  to  the  eity  of 


On  the  following  day  the  conataUe  of  the  dnke  of  Lotnune 
anivee  with  an  army  befiire  the  towii.  Sir  Guy,  having  fint 
hoard  maao,  iaRuea  the  neeeaaaiy  orders  for  defence.  He  first 
sands  out  Sir  Thictrv,  at  the  bead  of  a  hundred  knights,  to 
ksq)  &e  enemy  in  cneck;  and  when  he,  after  many  feata  of 
mloor,  begins  to  be  distressed.  Sir  Guy  marches  to  his  relief 
and.  after  a  severe  contest,  diapenes  ihe  srmy  of  Lorraine, 
a>d  returns  with  a  number  of  prisoners,  amongst  whom  is  the 
general  in  chief.  The  next  day  Duke  Otho  arrives  in  penoa 
at  the  head  of  a  second  and  more  powerful  army,  which  is  in^ 
■tMitly  attacked  by  Sir  Guy,  Sir  Henud.  and  Sir  Thierry, 
duDwn  into  ctmflision.  and  pursued  to  a  considerable  distance. 
Bat  Sir  Heraud,  following  Otho  with  too  much  impetaasi^, 
is  announded;  and,  his  aword  breaking  in  his  hand,  is  takan 
prisoner  by  the  enemy.  Ouj  misses  hu  fiiend,  ntums  with 
Sit  Thieny  in  aearcK  of  Vni,  overtakes  Sir  Otho,  wounds 
him,  rescues  Sir  Ileraud,  and  returns  in  trium|^  into  the 
aity.  Sir  Otho  has  now  recourse  to  treachery.  The  duke  of 
Lonaine,  unable  to  resist  his  importuni^,  consents  to  became 
a  pftTty  in  the  most  in&mous  artifice.  He  sends  to  Anbcy 
n  arohbidtop  empowered  to  ofler  the  most  solemn  assurances 
af  tbtgiveneas,  together  with  a  oonfirmatian  of  the  marri^ 
betwe»  ThiOTy  and  Osile,  provided  they  wiU  repair  to  thev 
aavei«ign  at  an  ^qminted  spot,  and  theare  consent  to  aialw  an 
wology  for  their  conduct.  Sir  Guy,  who  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  disaimulation  of  Otho,  suspects  the  fraud,  but,  cm 
the  fiuth  of  the  archbishop,  consnita  at  length  to  aecompanj 
his  fkiends.  Hiey  all  set  out  unarmed.  At  a  day's  journey 
ftom  Chinnaise  they  me«t  the  diike  of  L(»iaine,  wlw,  aft« 
•mbnwing  Thieny  aad  Sir  Quj,  gives  them  die  kias  of  irieait- 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


GUT   or   WABWICK.  31S 

^if  and  tcoonciliatioa.  Otfao  MiTiuteee,  ai^iareiitly  fei  &e 
mate  purpoee;  but  suddenly  stops,  and  dinvta  a  body  of  bm 
MUtemtt^  wbom  he  bmi  prerionsly  placed  in  ambuscade,  to 
■an  the  whole  company  as  rebeJs,  and  traitore  to  tbeir  sore- 
Ttim.  Sir  Herand  aiui  Sir  Thierry  are  instantly  surroonded 
aaa  eanied  off;  but  Sir  Quy,  more  wary  and  more  actiTe, 
~Tt''rT  his  way  through  the  assailants,  many  of  whom,  thoa^ 
lunned,  he  strikes  dead  with  his  fist;  and  at  last  makes  us 
SM^e,  with  the  loss  of  his  mantle,  whiiJi  is  torn  in  piecBB 
dmug  the  strnggle.  Meeting  a  countryman  in  hia  flignt,  be 
boRDWB  a  staff,  with  which  he  qnickly  destroys  the  most  for- 
ward o£  his  pursners;  r^Mya  the  obligatloD  }iy  the  msent  ai 
%  hsvse,  whidi  he  takes  from  one  of  his  Tanqnished  enemies, 
rides  off  on  anotlier,  plunges  with  it  into  a  rapid  riTer,  is 
borne  in  safety  to  the  opposite  bank,  and  escapes.  In  the 
mean  time  Sir  Herand  is  carried  off  as  a  prisoner  by  the  dnke 
oTLomine;  and  Otho  takes  possessian  of  Osile,  togetbo:  witii 
Sir  TUcny,  wbom  he  toansports  to  Pavia,  and  throws  into  a 
dbngeon.  Osile,  nnable  to  resist  the  power  of  her  raviaher 
and  tlie  orders  of  ber  bther,  is  too  happy  in  being  permitted 
to  defer  for  forty  days  a  marriage  whidi  is  to  consign  her  to 
endleae  misery. 

Sir  Ouy,  in  despair  at  the  loss  of  hia  friends,  and  wandering 
without  design,  arrives  at  the  castle  and  requesta  herbOTOw 
Qodpag),  whidi  ia  granted.  Very  fortunately  this  castle, 
dunjgfa  situated  in  an  enemy's  countiy,  is  the  property  of  Sir 
A^a  of  the  Mountain,  a  knight  of  distinguished  yalour  and 
genwotily;  who,  having  often  fought  and  triumphed  under 
the  banners  of  Sir  Guy,  is  rejoiced  at  this  opportunity  of 
Keying  the  ob%ation  he  owes  to  an  old  benc&etor. 

Then  let  he  lead  Guy's  steed  stiai^t; 

Before  his  own  he  let  him  eat. 

By  the  hand  he  took  Guyon, 

And  yede  to  hoU,  and  set  him  down. 

A  mantle  of  silk  was  brought  fost. 

And  over  Guy's  shoulders  he  let  it  cast. 

At  dinner  they  reciprocally  relate  their  odTenturee.     Sir 

Amn  <^aa  an  army  of  fire  hundred  knights,  five  hundred 

aqiores,  and  five  hundred  servants,  to  attack  Otho;  but  Sir 

Ovj  obserres,  with  great  truth,  that  the  prep&ratione  neoes-, 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


316  XABLT   ENQLIBH  IlETXICAL  BOIUNCES. 

tarj  tar  Bucb  bd  enteTprise  woold  require  too  raatii  tone. 
He  determines  on  ■  mode  of  action  more  suited  to  his  impa- 
tience, and  to  hia  juat  confidence  in  the  resources  of  his  own 
Bcniufl  and  prowess.  After  refreshing  himaelf,  during  mght 
days,  in  the  castle  of  hia  friend,  and  having  fiillj  digested  his 
plan,  he  assumes  such  a  di^piisc  as  to  secure  him  against  all 
posaibility  of  detection,  tinges  his  fitcc  and  eyes-brows,  and 
arrives,  quite  alone,  at  the  court  of  Otho,  to  whom  he  presents 
a  destrere  (or  war-horae)  which  he  declares  to  be  of  inesti- 
mable value,  demanding  no  other  recompense  than  the  means 
of  revenging  himself  on  the  perfidious  and  wicked  Sir  Thienj. 
Otho,  bUnded  by  his  own  hatred  and  by  the  artifice  of  Sir 
Qny.  immediately  appoints  V"'rn  to  be  the  jailer  of  the  nnfbrtn- 


Guy  found  Thierry  in  a  pit ; 

Forty  fiithom  deep  was  it ! 
He  seizes  a  moment  when  he  thinks  himself  unobserved,  to 
tnftke  himself  known  to  his  friend,  and  to  Booth  his  distress  by 
the  promise  of  immediate  res«ue :  but  these  few  hasty  words 
are  overheard  by  a  "&Lae  Lombard,"  who  instantly  runs  off 
to  acquaint  Otho  with  this  important  discoTCry.  Fortunately 
Sir  Ouy,  conscious  of  his  danger,  anticipates  the  purpose  of 
the  felon,  and,  having  in  vain  attempted  to  bribe  him  to 
silence,  follows  him  into  the  presence  of  the  duke,  and  with 
one  blow  kills  him  at  the  foot  of  the  throne.  Otho,  aatoniahed 
at  this  outrage,  mrnaces  him  with  instant  death :  but  Sir  Guv, 
now  perfectly  nt  ease  with  respect  to  the  iatal  secret,  coolly 
answers,  that  the  traitor  whom  he  had  just  slain  was  detected 
in  carrying  food  to  Sir  Thierry ;  and  the  indignant  Otho  is 
perfectly  satisfied  with  the  apoitmy.  The  kui^t  then  goes 
out  to  purchase  provisions,  which  he  carries  to  his  friend; 
procures  admittance  to  the  presence  of  Qaile;  promises  her  a 
certain  and  speedy  rescue ;  at  the  same  time  recommending, 
ae  a  measure  necessary  to  her  delivery,  that  she  should  no 
longer  attempt  to  put  off  her  union  with  Sir  Otho,  and  then 
retires  to  complete  his  measures  for  the  accomplishment  of  his 
purpose. 

On  the  ni^t  preceding  the  wedding  day  he  puts  on  a  suit 
of  armour  which  Osile  had  prepared  for  nim;  liberates  Sir 
Hiierry;  helps  him  to  climb  over  the  walls  of  the  town; 
explains  to  hun  the  means  of  reaching  the  castle  of  Sir  Amys: 


uL,  Cookie 


OUT  or  WARWICK.  217 

and,  liding  at  the  break  of  dav  to  meet  the  maTriace  proces- 
Bon,  IciUs  Otho,  carriea  off  Osile  from  the  midst  of  tus  knigihte, 
and  bears  her  in  rafety  to  her  lover. 

Having  thiu  &t  ratitfied  his  vengesnce,  he  proposes  to  Sir 
Amys  and  Sir  Thierry  a  new  enteniriee,  for  the  purpose  of 
pnnisbing  the  Duke  of  Lorraine ;  but  that  soTereign,  sufB- 
tdently  manned  by  the  first  notice  of  their  preparationB, 
reqaests  the  kind  mtercession  of  Sir  Heraud,  whom,  thon^ 
he  still  detains  at  bis  court,  be  had  honourably  treated;  and 
Sir  Heraud  having  oonsented  to  become  his  borrow  (pledge 
or  security),  a  reconciliation  is  effected,  and  Sir  Thierry,  with 
her  Other's  consent,  is  solemnly  unit«d  to  the  &ir  Osile. 

Sir  Guy,  constantly  auxiouB  for  his  return  to  England,  but 
as  constantly  turned  aside  by  fresh  adventures,  goes  with  his 
friends  on  a  party  of  boar-hunting;  and  one  of  these  animals, 
which,  on  account  of  its  enormous  size,  he  had  selected  for  his 
prey,  being  obstinately  pursued  by  him,  carries  him  into 
Flanders,  at  that  time  governed  by  a  king  cslled  Florentine. 
Sir  Ghiy,  having  at  length  overtaken  and  killed  the  boar, 
begins,  as  usual  on  such  occasions,  to  blow  his  horn. 
Then  said  King  Florentyne, 
"What  noise  is  this?  'Fore  saint  Mar^, 
Some  man,"  he  said,  "in  my  franchise,' 
Hath  slain  my  deer,  and  bloweth  the  prize." 
An  insult  of  this  importance  could  not  fiiil  of  awakening 
the  royal  indignation;  and  Florentine  dispatcbed  bis  own  son, 
with  orders  to  bring  the  culprit  immediately  before  him. 
Unluckily,  the  prince  attempted  to  execute  the  commission 
with  so  little  ceremony  that  the  Knight  of  Wam-ick  was 
much  oficnded,  and  testified  his  displeasure  at  such  an  imper- 
tinent message  by  a  blow  with  his  horn,  which  laid  the  mes- 
senger dead  at  hia  feet.  After  this  exploit,  to  which,  at  the 
time,  he  paid  little  attention,  he  quietly  repairs  to  the  palace, 
and  asks  ibr  harbour,  is  honourably  received,  and  is  seated  at 
the  king's  table :  but,  during  dinner,  the  prince's  body  is 
brought  in,  and  Florentine  learns,  with  equal  rage  and  asto- 
nishment, that  his  new  guest  is  the  murderer,  Hie  unhappy 
fiUfaer  seises  an  axe  from  the  hand  of  an  attendant,  and  aims, 
but  without  efiect,  a  dreadliJ  blow  at  Sir  Guy,  who  is  at  the 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


31S  BABtT  BMQt,IHH   KZTaiC«.L 

■aae  time  uesiled  on  &I1  aides,  but  escapea  in  aaietf,  after 
hft'nng  killed  fbnrteen  of  bis  asBailanto.  Having  at  lengtk 
found  luB  way  bock  to  Sir  Thierry,  he  ^kends  a  short  time 
with  that  faithful  friend,  and  then  with  Sir  Honud,  t^ea  hia 
leave,  and  depnrta  for  England,  where  he  aztives  withond 
farther  impedtment. 

Immediately  after  his  landing  he  repain  to  Yoric,  where  he 
it  ItosDurably  received  by  King  Athebtan:  but  the  King  has 
wcely  time  to  express  his  congratulations  on  hie  aaie  return, 
•Aen  a  messenger  brings  him  the  tidings  of  a  moat  portoitoaB 
dragon,  who  was  then  desolating  the  ooonty  of  Northomber- 

He  is  as  bladt  aa  any  coal, 

Hugged  aa  a  rough  foal : 

His  body,  from  tne  navel  upward. 

No  man  can  pierce,  it  is  so  hard. 

His  neck  is  great  as  any  sommcre  ;- 

He  runneth  as  evfift  as  any  destrere.* 

Paws  he  hath  as  a  lion, 

All  that  he  toucheth  he  Blayeth  dead  down; 

Great  wings  he  hath  to  flight, 

lliere  is  no  man  that  bear  him  might. 

Tliere  may  no  man  figbt  him  again. 

But  that  he  slayeth  him  certain; 

For  a  fouler  b^t  than  is  he, 

I-wiss  of  none  never  beard  ye. 
Bir  Guy,  who  had  an  old  enmity  to  dragons,  readily  under- 
tadces  this  adventure,  ia  the  great  comfort  of  Athelstan;  but 
so  very  dreadful  was  the  appearance  of  this  monster,  that 
even  Sir  Guy,  though  a  stranger  to  fear,  could  not  i^frtun 
from  saying  his  prayers  with  more  earnestness  and  solemnity 
Iban  he  bad  ever  used  iu  any  of  his  preceding  combats.  Tbe 
battle  was  long  and  obstinate,  because  the  dragon's  scales 
«e?e  impenctmble;  but  at  length  the  knight,  watching  his 
opporttmity,  drove  his  sword  the  throat  of  his  enemy;  after 
i^eh  he  cut  off  his  head,  and  carried  it  in  triumph  to  Athd- 
n  at  Lincoln.    Having  thus  signalised  himself  in  bis  natire 

'  y  an  exploit  which  oil  England  beheld  with  osto- 
e  eudoenly  witlidrew  from  court,  and,  with  filial 


bran 
,  he  0 


1  A  nimpter  hone.  *  A  nr-hone. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


QITT  OF  WARWICK.  219 

emgeraeta,  tuuteoed  to  Walliiigford.     But,  aliul  his  pArenta 
woe  no  moie!     Sir  Guy,  tfa^fbre,  after  bestowing  on  Ui 
old  friend  Heraud  the  whole  iuheritijioe,  impatiently  hurried 
to  Warwick,  to  offer  at  t^  feet  of  Felice  the  lauidi  wbicb  he 
kad  acquired  in  every  part  of  ChriBtendcRn. 
H«  told  her,  as  I  understand. 
Of  all  his  &re'  in  dirers  land. 
And  altogether  bow  he  had  sped, 
And  how  that  he  was  often  bid 
By  inany  ladiee,  <tf  great  hononra, 
King's  danghten,  and  emperonn ; 
"  And  all  I  Nnook,  truly, 
For  tbee,  Fdioe,"  said  Sir  Guy. 
During  the  long  absence  of  her  admirer,  Felice  hod  &and 
leirare  for  reflection;  she  now,  therefore,  openly  avowed  her 
pasoon,  and  with  the  fidl  consent  of  her  &ther,  who  sincerely 
rejoiced  in  obtaining  such  a  son-in-law,  was  finally  united  to 
hn  lOTer.     Every  inhabitant  of  Warwick  sympathized  in  the 
happiness  of  their  hero,  and  of  ^kmI  Earl  Rohasd;  many 
weeks  were  passed  in  constant  festivity;  and  the  pregnant^ 
of  the  &ir  Felice,  which  was  soon  after  announced,  gave  tiae 
to  new  rdoicings. 

Here,  therefore,  the  reader  will  naturally  expect  a  termi- 
nation of  this  long-winded  story ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  pie^ 
of  Sir  Guy  was  neither  lees  capricious,  nor  less  disaBtrous  in 
its  consequences,  than  ^le  afibction  of  his  mistress.     He  had 
been  taught  that  other  duties  were  more  sacred  and  more 
acceptable  in  the  si^ht  of  Heaven,  than  those  of  husband  and 
&ther.     But  the  historian  shall  tell  his  own  story.     At  tiie 
end  of  forty  days  after  the  mairiage,  it  happened  that 
As  Sir  Gny  come  from  plav. 
Into  a  tower  he  went  on  high. 
And  looked  about  him,  far  and  nigh; 
Ouy  stood,  and  bethought  him,  tho. 
How  he  had  done  many  a  man  wo. 
And  slain  many  a  man  with  his  hand. 
Burnt  and  desboyed  many  a  land. 
And  all  was  tw  woman's  love. 
And  not  for  God's  sake  above. 


J  L,  Google 


220  EA.BLT  ESOLISH   KETBICAL  BOHjLVCBB. 


Felice,  vho  had  observed  hig  i«T«rie,  inquired  the  cftuse; 
and  learnt,  with  horror  and  astonishinent,  hiB  determination 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  a  state  of  penance  and 
mortiHcation.  He  contented  himself  with  directing  her, 
whenever  their  child  shovdd  be  of  proper  age,  if  it  ihouU 
prove  ft  son,  to  intrust  his  education  to  Sir  Heraud;  and 
quitted  her  without  taking  leave  of  the  Earl,  end  eren  without 
commonicating  to  his  old  companion  Heraud  the  singular 
resolution  he  had  formed.  Fdice,  unable  to  detain  him, 
tdacee  on  his  fing^'  a  gold  ring,  requestine  him  to  bestow  At 
least  ft  thou^t  on  her  whenever  he  ahould  cast  his  eyes  on 
that  pledge  of  her  affbction;  and  her  huBbond,  after  promising 
to  obey  her  instructioiis,  assumes  the  drees  of  a  pejmer,  and 
departs  for  the  Holy  land. 

Felice  commnnif^tes  to  Rohand  the  news  of  this  unexpected 
misfortune ;  and  die  good  Elarl  is  persuaded,  with  great  ap- 
pearance of  probability,  that  Sir  Guy  can  mean  no  more  than 
to  put  her  at&ction  to  the  test,  by  a  conduct  as  capridous  as 
ber  own.  She  at  first  is  disposed  to  put  an  end  to  her  life, 
but  is  checked  by  the  thoughts  of  her  child.  Sir  Heraud,  in 
hopes  of  divettmg  his  friend  from  itiis  resolution,  takes  the 


Guy  sought  hallowee'  in  many  conntr^. 

And  sithc  to  Jerusalem  went  he ; 

And  when  be  to  Jerusalem  came. 

To  Antioch  his  way  he  name.' 
Here  occurs  a  very  strange  and  very  tedious  episode — 

He  found. 

As  be  went  in  his  journey, 

A  &yr«  well  certaj-ne. 

One  sat  thereby  in  slavayne'. 

A  &ir  body  he  had.  and  a  long  visage. 

He  seemed  to  be  of  high  parentage. 

This  personage  was  a  certain  Earl  Jonas,  who  had  fifteen 

Bona,  at  whose  head  he  went  to  make  war  against  tfae  Sara- 

eons;  but,  after  a  long  engagement,  in  course  of  which  oD 

their  swoids  broke  in  their  bands,  they  became  the  captivea 

'  Siintt.  *  Tnoli.  *  A  pilgrun'i  nifae. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


OUT  OP  WASWICK.  221 

of  fi  oertain  Sir  Triamonr.  This  pet^  monaicli  being  sum- 
moned, t4^ther  with  his  son  Fabour,  to  attend  the  covirt  of 
his  BuwFTi'",  the  soudan  of  Persia,  is  unexpectedly  involved  in 
a  TGTf  dangerous  adventure.  Fabour  is  invited  by  the  Prince 
of  Fersio  to  play  ^th  him  at  chess;  and,  being,  unfortu- 
nately, better  skilled  in  that  game  than  in  tbt  arts  of  a 
courtier,  has  the  imprudence  to  give  check-mate  to  the 
haugh^  son  of  the  eoudan,  who,  ofibnded  by  his  presumption, 
wounds  him  on  the  head  with  the  chess-board.  Fabour  very 
humbly,  and  it  must  be  confessed  very  reasonably,  remon- 
sbatea  against  this  mode  of  commenting  on  the  game ;  but 
his  arguments  having  no  other  effect  than  to  inflame  the  fair 
of  hie  antagonist,  he  seizes  the  chess-board  in  his  turn,  and, 
with  one  blow,  lays  the  prince  dead  at  his  feet.  He  thea 
conununicates  the  intelligence  of  what  he  had  done  to  Jonas, 
and  they  immediately  retire  from  court.  But  the  power  of 
the  soudan  was  sufficient  to  reach  them  in  their  retreat. 
Th^  are  summoned  to  exculpate  themselves  before  an  a»- 
sembly  of  their  peera ;  and  the  &ct  being  admitted.  Fabour  is 
condemned  to  fight,  either  in  person  or  oy  deputy,  the  cham- 
pion of  the  BOudan,  tiie  ferocious  Amiraunt  of  Ethiopia,  a 
giant  whom  no  Saracen  had  yet  been  able  to  resist.  The 
tmly  &vour  they  can  obtain  is  the  usual  respite  of  a  year  and 
a  day,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  champion  hardy  enough 
to  undertake  the  combat.  TViamour,  returning  to  his  capital, 
summons  Jonas  into  his  presence,  and  asks  him  if  he  is  ac- 
quainted with  any  Christian  hero  capable  of  overcoming  the 
nant;  and  the  prisoner  bavins  named  two,  Sir  Guy  and  Sir 
Reraod,  the  king  dispatches  nim  in  search  of  one  or  the 
other;  with  the  promise  of  Ubrr^  and  the  most  ample  re- 
wards in  case  of  success,  and  the  denunciation  of  death  to 
hi»ir"'<^f  and  all  his  sons  in  case  of  his  &ilure. 

The  reader  is  aware  that  the  search  of  Earl  Jonas  has 
hitherto  been  nnsuccessfid,  that  the  fiital  period  is  nearly 
e^nred,  and  that,  in  relating  his  stery  to  Sir  Quy,  whom  he 
is  unftble  to  recognise  in  the  disguise  of  a  palmer,  he  is  guided 
by  oonrteey  itthta  than  by  any  hope  of  deriving  benefit  by 
lus  MButance.  The  hero  of  Warwick,  of  course,  oSbca  to 
intdeitake  the  adventure;  is  accepted,  though  not  without 
heaitatkm;  is  presented  to  Triamour,  properiy  armed,  and 
intcodaoed  into  the  litte.    IW  combat  ia  long  md  obitiiuUe  t 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


222  EABLT  XKQLISH  HBTStOAX 

sad  tbe  guoA,  after  receiving  Toanj  woimda,  leqaMta  of  his 
mirtunry  m  momentary  respite,  for  ■the  ptnpcMe  of  ilakjng  his 
tfalrst  ia  the  neighbouring  river;  and  with  this  request  onr 
hero,  vho  waa  the  model  of  coaiteaj,  readily  complies;  -whta 
the  giant,  perfectly  rccorered  from  his  &tigne,  recommencefl 
tbe  combat  with  renewed  vigour.  Sir  Gny,  growing  thiratj 
in  hie  turn,  makes  a  similar  request,  meets  with  a  rude  ro- 
fusal,  but  accomplishes  his  purpose  by  superior  agility; 
ntnms  to  the  attack;  cuts  off  successively  both  the  giant's 
arms;  finally  kills  him,  and  then  severs  his  head  from  his 
body;  Jonas  and  his  sons  are  delivered  from  prison;  and  Sir 
Ouy,  after  disclosing  his  name,  departs  in  parsait  of  adven- 
tures. In  the  mean  time  Felice  has  been  broo^t  to  bed  of  a 
son,  the  illustrious  Raynbum.  Having  caiefully  tended  him 
during  the  first  four  years,  she  j^aces  him,  according  to  the 
cxders  of  her  husband,  under  the  tuition  of  the  experienced 
Heraud.  But  Fate  had  detennined  that  he  should  lecene  an 
early  lesson  in  the  schot^  of  advcamty. 

So,  on  a  day,  I  understand 

Mrachants  came  into  England, 

Into  London  out  of  Rusaie, 

With  Englishmen  to  sell  and  buy. 

Tbev  gave  King  Athetstan  silver  and  gold 

To  buy  and  sell  where  ihey  would. 

So,  ou  a  day,  withoaten  lie, 

Tlic  Saracens  gan  this  child  espie; 

Guy's  son,  &ir  Raynbron, 

And  stole  him  away  with  treascai. 
After  this 

Hiey  sailed  with  theii  prey  to  an  haventown. 

Into  a  king's  land,  as  i  guess, 

That  was  well  &r  in  heathemien ; 

The  king's  name  was  Aragus. 
To  him  Baynbum  was  preaenled ;  and  Azagns,  pleased  with 
his  ai^jcaiance,  clothed  him  magnificently,  caused  his  ednca- 
tirai  to  be  completed,  made  him  his  "hnmb^^f™,  and  coafenvd 
oa  him  the  order  of  knighthood. 

Heraud,  as  soon  as  he  heard  that  his  ehaige  was  stolen,  set 
off  in  pursuit  of  him:  but  he  was  &x  less  fortunate  than  his 
vsrd;  ac  vaa  shipwrecked  on  the  coast  of  Afcica,  aad,  ate 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


a  dreadfol  conflict  with  the  nadves,  wm  finally  overpowend 
and  tiiTOwit  into  a  dungeon,  in  which  he  yne  suffered  to  lia- 
goiah,  aeclailed  from  his  Mends  and  forgotten  by  his  enemiea, 
iriiile  his  pupil  was  signalizing  himself  by  such  feate  of  eariy 
}Rt>weea  as  to  excite  astonishment  in  erery  part  at  the 
Saracen  empre. 

But  it  is  now  time  to  Tetom  to  Sir  Guy,  who,  solely  occs- 
pied  with  derotional  pnrsnita,  had  buvelled  to  Constantinc^ile, 
and  from  thence  into  Almayne.  Here  he  diances  to  meet  a 
pilgrim  who  "  made  semblaunt  sorry."  Guy  enters  into  am- 
versation  with  him,  and  finds  him  to  be  his  old  friend  Sir 
IRueny,  who  had  been  diepoeeessed  by  the  emperor  of  all  his 
fieft,  and  reduced  to  the  greatest  distress,  in  consequence  of  a 
fidse  accusation  prefcired  against  him  by  Barnard,  coadB  of 
&e  fiunous  Duke  Otho,  the  felon  Dulte  of  Pavia,  who  had 
inherited  the  estates  and  the  vices  of  that  treacherous  prinoa, 
and,  unfortunately  for  the  imperial  Tasaala.  possessed  to  the 
nme  degree  the  confidence  of  his  master,  together  with  the 
dignity  m  steward  to  the  emperor.  Sir  Guy,  on  hearing  thct 
the  dMth  of  Otho,  whom  he  had  slain,  had  been  emplo^d  ts 
the  ruin  of  his  friend  Thierry,  fiills  into  a  swoon ;  a  piaotiae 
to  which,  as  we  have  seen,  he  was  much  addicted. 
"Good  man,"  quoth  Thierry,  "tell  thou  me 

How  long  this  evil  bath  bolden  thee?" 
"  Many  a  oay,"  quoth  Sir  Ony,  "it  took  me  ore!" 
"  Good  loTe.'^'  quoth  Thierry,  "  do  it  no  more!" 

Unerry  proceeds  to  lament  the  supposed  death  of  Sir  On; 
who,  though  full  of  compassion  for  his  friend,  and  alrcaay 
determined  to  redress  his  injaries,  contmues  to  conceal  hM 
name.  But  Thierry  was  weak  and  fiiint  with  hunger;  lad 
Bit  Gut  teQs  him,  Uiat  as  "  he  has  a  penny  in  his  purse,"  it 
would  be  expedient  to  hasten  to  the  nearest  town,  and  eta^aj 
fiiat  Bmn  in  the  purchase  of  provisions.  Thierry  williBg^r 
accompanies  him,  but,  feeling  sleepy  as  weH  as  foint,  is  ai- 
Vised  to  refresh  himself,  in  the  first  instance,  with  a  few 
moments'  repose ;  and  the  bmished  Thierry  &lh  asleep  witt 
his  head  lestiiig  on  the  knees  of  Sir  Guy.  During  his  slum- 
ber, a  "white  weaseF'  suddenly  jumps  out  of  his  mouA; 
tsdces  refuge  in  the  cueriee  of  a  ne^hbonring  rock,  and  tSbn 
a  short  Bpac«  of  time  returns,  and  again  nuu  down  his  Urngt. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


Hi  SUtLT   EKOLISIt   METKICAL  BOMAMCBS. 

Sir  Hiieny,  walunr,  iBfbrnu  Sir  Qny  that  he  had  dreamed  a 
dream;  that  he  haa  seen  a"  fkir  bright  sword"  and  a  treasure 
of  inestimable  value,  and  that,  sleeping  on  his  arm,  he  had 
been  BBTed  by  him  from  a  dreadful  calamity.  The  supposed 
palmer  interprets  the  dream;  goes  to  the  spot  indicated  by 
the  weasel,  and  finds  the  sword  and  treasure ;  which  he  dc- 
lirera  to  Sir  Thierry,  with  an  injunction  to  preserve  the  sword 
with  the  greatest  possible  care,  and  then  takes  his  leave. 

Sir  Our  now  repairs  to  the  emperor's  palace,  asks  charity, 
and  is  admitted  into  the  hall.  As  hia  habit  bespeaks  him  a 
tisvcUer,  he  is  on  aU  sides  assailed  by  inquiries  after  news; 
and  the  emperor,  having  a  very  proper  opinion  of  his  own 
importance,  qoesttons  him  on  the  reports  prevailing  among 
his  subjects  respecting  his  character.  Guy  boldly  assures 
him  that  he  is  universally  blamed  for  the  flagrant  injustice  of 
his  conduct  towards  the  it:ni>ccnt  Thierry;  and,  throwing 
down  his  glove,  offers  to  pro™,  by  force  of  arms,  the  fidse- 
hood  of  Barnard's  accusation.  The  steward,  though  not  a 
litUe  surprised  by  the  appearance  of  such  an  uncouth  adver- 
sary, accepts  the  challenge ;  the  battle  is  awarded ;  the  palmer 
is  presented  with  a  suit  of  armour,  and  then  repairs  to  Thierry 
fiiF  the  sword  which  had  been  miraculoualy  discovered  by  the 
white  weasel.  Sir  Barnard,  however,  was  so  stout,  that  after 
a  combat  which  lasted  during  the  whole  day  the  victory  was 
still  undecided:  but  he  had  discovered  during  this  trial  of  the 
palmer's  prowess,  that  it  would  be  much  more  convenient  to 

End  of  his  adversary  by  any  other  means  than  to  abide  by 
issue  of  a  second  conflict.  Judging  therefore  that  the 
palmer  would  sleep  soundly  iStet  his  labgue,  he  dispatches  a 
number  of  his  emissaries,  with  orders  to  take  him  up  in  his 
bed  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  and  throw  him  into  the  sea. 
Although  Sir  Guy  was  lodged  in  the  palace,  being  under  tho 
immeduite  protection  of  the  justice  of  the  empire,  this  bold 
eaterprise  was  successfully  executed;  and  Sir  Guy,  when  he 
awaked  in  the  morning,  was  not  a  little  astonished  to  find 
himself  floating  in  his  bed,  at  some  distance  from  land.  But 
Providence,  who  had  intended  that  the  guilt  of  Sir  Barnard 
should  become  completely  manifest,  directed  a  fisherman  to 
tiw  spot,  who  conveyed  Sir  Guy  in  safety  to  the  palace,  and 
Klated  this  miiacnlous  incident  to  the  emperor.  The  monarch 
having  detenmned  that  the  punjjhment  ta  the  steward  should 


L,  Cookie 


our  OF  WABWiCK.  22S 

be  inflicted  by  the  champion  whom  Heaven  had  tlius  marked 
out  for  the  purpose,  the  battle  recommences,  and  Sir  Barnard, 
abeedy  half  vanquished  by  the  reproaches  of  hia  own  con- 
science, ia  overpowered  and  slain.  The  victor  then  demands 
the  reinstatement  of  Sir  lluerry,  and,  having  obtained  it, 
goes  in  search  of  his  friend,  whom  he  finds  in  a  chorch,  de- 
Tontly  engaged  in  prayer,  and  hastily  leads  him  to  the  em- 
peror, who  weeps  at  the  u^t  oi  hu  distress,  and  restores 
him  to  all  hia  posseseionB. 

The  emperor  let  bathe  Thierry, 
And  clad  him  in  clothes  richely. 
And  gave  him  both  pal&^  and  steed, 
And  ^  thinsB  that  he  had  of  need. 
Sir  lliierry,  vrho  had  hitherto  felt  little  confidence  in  the 
assurances  of  the  pilgrim,  was  now  filled  with  the  wannest 
gratitude  towards  his  deliverer ;  and  his  gratitude  was  exalted 
to  enthusiasm,  when,  having  been  invit«i  to  accompany  him 
during  a  part  of  his  jormey,  he  discovered,  in  this  deliverer, 
his  old  friend  and  bene&ctor.     He  adjured  Sir  Guy  to  share 
the  prosperity  he  had  bestowed ;  but  the  hero,  only  solicitous 
to  become  an  humble  instrument  in  the  hands  of  Providence, 
and  determined  to  fulfil  his  destiny,  whatever  it  might  be, 
tore  himself  from  his  embraces,  and,  poreuing  his  journey, 
arrived,  without  meeting  any  new  adventures,  in  England. 

Athelslan  was,  at  this  moment,  in  the  greatest  distress. 
He  was  besieged  in  Winchester  by  Anlat  king  of  Denmark, 
and  hod  only  obtained  a  temporary  respite  from  the  assault, 
by  stipulating  to  produce  a  champion  who  should  enter  the 
lists  in  his  defence  against  the  terrible  Colbrand.  Such  a 
champion,  however,  he  was  well  aware,  could  not  be  finind  in 
Winchester,  and  he  seemed  destined  to  fall  under  the  yoke  of 
the  Banish  monarch;  when,  ai^  spending  some  days  in 
pr^er  and  abstinence,  he  was  instructed  by  "  an  angel  fi-om 
heven  light"  to  intrust  his  defence  to  the  first  pilgrim  whom 
he  should  meet  at  the  entrance  of  his  palace.  This  pilgrim, 
as  the  reader  will  have  fijreseen,  was  Sir  Guy;  and  Athelstan 
condescended  to  ask,  on  his  knees,  the  asustance  of  the 
Heaven-directed  champion. 

"  Do  way,'  leve  sir,"  said  Guy, 
"  Ich  am  an  old  man,  of  feeble  body; 
■Ceue. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


BABI.T  EKfiusH  mraicAL  xohances. 

My  strength  isfrome&n!"^ 
Tin  king  fell  on  knees  to  Ronnd, 
And  dyed  him  mercy  in  tWt  •toond, 

Gif  it  his  will  were. 
And  the  barouns  did  also; 
O*  knees  they  fellen  slle  t)u). 

With  sorrow  sod  sighing  Mie. 
8ir  Gny  beheld  the  Im^ings  alL 
And  swich  sorrow  hem  wis  befaD 

Sir  Guy  had  of  hem  care. 

Sir  Qaj  bmk  up  the  king  tam. 
And  bade  the  tordings,  sraichan. 

That  they  ihould  ap-Btoud; 
And  said,  "  For  God  H  tnnit^ 
And  tx  to  m^ce  SnglutdfreCf 

Tho  bKttte  I  uim'  on  bond." 
Thm  -wwrn  the  king  Aill  ^ad  and  falitfae^ 
Aad  thanked  Gny  a  thousand  sitbe,* 

And  Jem  Chnstes  soBd.* 
To  the  king  of  Denmark  he  a^it  Aan, 
And  said  be  had  taaiidtsa  a  man 

To  fi^t  &r  Engdond. 

The  Danish  men  busked*  hem  ya» 
Into  the  battle  for  to  faie; 

To  fight  tfaey  were  well  &w ;  * 
And  Guy  was  armed  swithe  w^ 
Li  a  good  hauberk  of  steel, 

Wroi^ht  of  the  best  Uw.> 
An  helm  he  had  of  mickle  might, 
With  a  secle  of  gold  "  that  shooe  twight. 

With  [srecious  stmies  on  rawe: 
la  the  front  stood  a  carbimde  stone; 
Aa  bright  as  any  sun  it  shone. 


gfttasany 
tgleametii 


That  gleameth  under  shaw." 


<  Gone.    ■  On.    ■  Tske.     *  Time.     '  Seodiiig;  matagr.    <  rrepand. 
*Badj.  'Qlad.  ■  Muuicr.   "  A  phis  of  gold.   "  A  thicket,  or  wood. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


Merry  it  ma  to  bdioU. 
Trast  and  bme  was  hia  ventayle,' 
Gloves,  and  gambeson,'  a&d  hosen  of  mail, 

Aa  good  knight  have  shold. 
Girt  he  was  with  a  good  brond,* 
"Well  kerrand ;  *  befwtm  hia  bond, 

A  tSTge>  listed*  with  gold. 
Portrayed  with  three  kings  com,* 
That  present  Ood  when  he  was  born; 

Mcvrier  WM  none  on  monld. 

And  a  swift  entrad' ste«d 
Alwm*  they  did  Um  le^ 

His  tire '"  it  was  fsB  gmj; 
Sir  Ony  upon  th«t  steed  wond," 
With  a  good  glaive'*  in  his  Load, 

And  pricked  him  forth  his  way. 
And  when  he  uame  to  the  place 
Wheie  the  battte  locked"  was. 


And  to  Ood  he  bade  hia  bede,'* 
He  should  ben  hia  help  that  day. 

"Lord!"  said  Ghiy,  " that  reared  I.ASironu,i* 
And  for  man  tholed"  pasnoim. 

And  on  tiie  rood''  g^tn  bleed; 
That  aayed  Suzan  from  the  feloon, 
And  halp  Daniel  &on  the  liou. 

To  day,  wise  me  and  Tcde!" 
As  thou  art  m^hti  beren-kiiig. 
To  day  giant  mt  thy  Ht-wng, 

And  help  me  at  ^is  need ; 
And,  Leredy  Marj !  AiU  at  m^t, 

t  Ttte  moTcable  front  to  ■  hehnat,  whixk  etmnJ  tha  face,  and  throng 

which  the  wcucr  mpired  tie  air.  'A  ttnSei  and  qBltcd  habit,  fitted 
to  the  Iwdj  ta  prercDt  the  chaing  of  Che  cstetnal  annour,  aa  wall  aa  to 
cbuck.  Ibe  prognes  of  a  weapon.  ■  Sword.  *  Catting.  *  ShiettL 
""     '      '        '  "■     -       -  •  ••      ■^_       •  Probably  the  hone* 

A  weajMn  compoied  of  a  long 
_».  .lied,  appointed.      '•  Prayer. 

"  Cnt.      "  Instruct  and  adviie. 

a2 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


126  £ABLT   EJHOLIBH   ICETAIC&L   BOKAKCSa. 

To  day  save  Engluidee  right. 

And  lene'  me  well  to  ^eed!" 
When  the  folk  was  Bamned*  bj  both  side. 
The  two  kings,  with  mickle  pride. 

After  the  relics  they  send ; 
The  corponiB,'  and  iJie  mass-gear. 
On  the  halidom  *  they  prn  swear. 

With  wordes  free  and  hend. 
The  kii^  of  Denmark  s^orc  first,  y-wiss, 
Oif  that  his  giant  slayen  is, 

To  Denmark  he  shall  wend. 
And  never  more  England  come  within, 
Ne  none  after  him  of  his  kin. 

Unto  the  worldis  end, 
Sithen  swore  the  King  Athelston, 
And  said  among  hem  everichon, 

hy  Ood,  that  all  may  weld,' 
Gif  his  man  there  slayn  be, 
Or  over-comen,  that  men  may  sec, 

Eecreant  in  the  field. 
His  man  he  will  become  on  hand. 
And  all  the  realm  of  England, 

Of  him,  for  to  held; 
And  bold  him  for  lord  and  king. 
With  gold  and  silrer,  and  all  thing. 

Great  truage*  him  for  to  yield. 
When  they  had  swom,  and  hostage  found. 
Colbrand  stert  up  in  that  atound; 

To  fight  he  was  fiiU  fell : 
He  was  so  mickle,  and  so  unredt,' 
Tliat  none  horse  might  him  lead. 

In  gest  as  I  yon  tell ; 
Unnethe*  a  cart  might  him  bear. 
So  many  he  had  of  ormes-gear,* 

The  English  for  to  quell ; 
Swiche  armour  as  he  had  upon, 

'  Give;  grsat.  ■  Assembled  togetlier.  '  Ths  doth  irhich  vM  pUccd 
tpneulh  tbe  consccntcd  elements  in  the  mcrwnent.  *  Suictusry ;  nen- 
ment.   *  Qoreiu.   *  Thbnte.  A.  N.    '  UowieUf.  *  Scarcelj.   *  Amour. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


OUT  OF  ytiXWlCK. 


But  as  it  were  a  fiend  of  hell. 

Of  mails  woe  nought  hia  haubedc. 
It  wafl  all  of  another  work 

That  marvel  is  to  hear; 
All  it  were  thick  splints  of  steel, 
Hiick,  ^-joined  strons  and  well. 

To  keep  that  fiendu  fere.' 
Hosen  he  had  also  well  y-wronght, 
Other  than  splintes  was  it  nought, 

From  hia  foot  to  hia  Bwere:* 
He  was  so  mickle  and  so  strong. 
And,  thereto,  so  wonderlich  long. 

In  the  world  was  none  hia  peer. 
An  helm'  he  had  on  his  heved  set, 
And  ther-under  a  thick  baainet ;  * 

Unseonly  waa  his  weed: 
A  targe  be  had  y-wrought  full  well, 
(Other  metal  waa  there  none  but  steel)) 

A  mickle  and  unrede. 
All  hie  annouT  waa  black  as  piteb, 
Well  foul  he  waa,  and  loathlich, 

A  grisly  gome'  to  fede. 
The  high  ki^,  that  sitteth  on  high. 
That  welt*  tlus  world  &r  and  nigh. 

Make  him  well  eril  to  speed! 

A  dart  he  bare  in  hia  hand  kerrand,* 
And  hia  weapon  about  him  atondand. 

Both  behind  and  befbm; 
Axes,  and  gisarmes,*  sharp  T-ground, 
And  glaives,  for  to  ^ve  witn  wound. 

Two  hundred  and  mo  there  worn* 
llie  English  beheld  him  &at; 
King  Athelstan  waa  sore  aghast, 

England  he  shotdd  have  lorn.'* 
F<Nr  when  Guy  saw  that  wicked  hert. 


Imet.     •  A  light  helmet  «ora 
rrmg,  cutdng.      *  B«tde-U(a. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


XABLT  KHQLIBS  MXTKICIX 


Sir  Out  lept  on  hu  eteed  fote-hot,' 
And  with  a  spear  tb&t  well  bote,* 

To  him  he  gui  to  ride; 
And  he  that  to  Clnj  darten  three; 
Of  tho  twn^  tiien  £iiled  be^ 

The  third  he  let  to  him  gli^- 
UiOTOogh  Guy's  dii^  it  ^ode,* 
And  thorough  hie  aimonr,  without  abode, 

Between  his  arm  and  aide; 
And  quitelit^*  into  the  field  it  yede. 
The  mountaunoe*  of  aa  acre  btede, 

£re  that  it  would  abide. 
Sir  Qvj  to  him  gan  to  drive, 
That  hu  apeor  bnist  a-five* 

On  his  shidd  that  was  so  boimd; 
And  Colbrand,  with  miclde  hcMt, 
On  Ouj's  liL-lm  be  would  have  unit. 

And  fiiiled  «f  him  that  stonnd. 
fietwix  the  saddle  and  the  araonn,' 
Tlie  stroke  at  that  ft^on  glode  adown, 

Without^i  wem'  or  wamd, 
Tbat  saddle  and  bene  atwo*  be  naot. 
Into  the  eartli  well  half  a  foot, 

And  Guy  feU  down  to  Kronnd. 
Sir  Onj,  aatite,"  up  stert, 
At  man  that  was  agreined"  in  heart. 

His  steed  he  bod  fvriore. 
On  his  helm  he  would  hit  him  liw, 
Ac  he  DO  might  nou^t  reach  thexto, 

By  two  foot  and  yet  more. 
But  on  hie  shoulder  tbe  sword  fell  down. 
And  carf  "  both  plates  and  haubergeon, 

With  his  t^mly  gore. 
Tboroo^  all  bia  annour  stem  and  atrong, 

1  bnEMtUitdT.      •  Cot.     '  Glided.      '  Qoite.      •  Amount      •  Bant  in 

Stb  pieco.    '  The  bow  of  »  nddlc    *  Hnrt.    •  lu  tiro.    "  Iinmedi»tdj. 

"Sorrowed.  >»  Cirred,  cot. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


evT  OP  vixwiCK..  23) 

He  tUtde  him  a  woimd  a  span  long, 

XliBt  grieved  him  full  sore. 
Colbnnd  was  Bore  oifaame. 
And  smot  Ouy  with  mickle  grame,' 

On  ioM  ti«bn  he  hit  him  tho; 
That  his  flowers  everichon. 
And  his  good  carbnnde  Htons 

Well  even  he  c«uf  a-two. 
Even  a-two  he  smot  his  shield, 
lliat  it  flew  into  die  field; 

When  Ghiy  saw  it  was  so. 
That  he  had  his  shield  fin-bra. 
Half  behind  and  half  befbrn, 

I»  heart  him  was  well  wo. 
And  Gny  hent'  his  sword  in  hand. 
And  heteUch'  smot  to  Collwand;_ 

As  a  child  he  stood  him  under; 
Upon  the  shield  be  gave  him  swich  a  dent) 
Before  the  stroVe  the  fire  out  went. 

As  it  were  light  of  thunder. 
The  bande  of  steel  he  carf  each  one, 
And  into  the  shield  a  foot  and  half  on. 

With  his  sword  he  smote  asunder. 
And  with  the  out-braiding '  his  sword  brast; 
Thouj^  Gny  were  titmi  sore  ^hait, 

It  was  little  wonder. 
Tho  was  Guy  sore  dismajd. 
And  in  his  heart  well  evil  apayd,' 

For  the  chance  him  was  befall; 
And,  for  he  had  lorn,  hia  good  bronad 
And  his  steed  upon  the  sond. 

To  our  Levedy  he  cau  call. 
Then  gan  the  Danish  host 
Each  pricken  other,  and  maken  boast. 

And  said,  among  hem  all, 
"  Now  shall  die  English  he  slain  in  field ; 
Great  trewoge  Ei^hud  shall  us  yield. 

And  erermore  be  our  thralL" 
'  Anger.     •  Took.     »  Botlj,  h^btIj.     •  Out-rtartiuj,      *  Pleued. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


{  EABLT  EKGLIBH  KETSICAI,  BOMAKTCES. 

"  Now,  Sir  knigfat,"  eaid  Colbrand, 

"  Thou  liast  lom  thi  sword  in  thine  hand, 

Th}'  shield,  and  eke  thy  steed. 
Do  now  well;  yield  thee  to  me, 
And  smartlicfa'  nnarme  thee; 

Ciy  mercy  I  tiee  rede. 
And,  for  thou  art  to  doughty  kni^t, 
Thoa  durst  aeain  me  held  iight, 

To  my  lord  I  gbaU  thee  lead; 
And  with  him  thou  shalt  accorded  be; 
In  hu  court  he  will  hold  tbee, 

And  find  that  thee  is  need." 
"Do  way!"  said  Ouy,  " iJiereof  apeak  nought; 
By  Him  ^t  all  ttus  worid  hath  wrou^^t, 

I  had  licrer  thon  were  an-hong!' 
Ac  flion  hast  aimes  great  plenty  j 
I-wis  ihon  must  lene*  me 

One  of  thine  axea  strong." 
Colbrand  swore,  "  Bv  Apolyn, 
Of  all  the  weapons  that  u  mine, 

Her  shalt  thon  none  afoi^; !  * 
Now  thou  wilt  not  do  by  mv  rede, 
Hiou  shalt  die  an  evil  dedc^ 

Ere  that  it  be  on^t  long!" 
'When  Ouy  heard  him  speak  lo, 
Al  soon  he  ean  h^T/i  turn  tho. 

And  to  hifl  weapons  he  geth. 
There  his  axes  atoden  br  hemselve; 
He  kept  one  with  a  well  good  helve,* 

The  best,  him  thou^t,  he  sceth. 
To  Colbrand  again  he  ran, 
And  said  "IValtour!"  to  him  than, 
"  Hon  ehalt  have  cril  death! 
Now  ich  have  of  weapons  plenty, 
Wherewith  that  I  may  were'  me, 

Right  maugre  al  thine  teeth." 
Colbrand.  then,  with  mickle  beat. 
On  Quy's  helm  he  would  have  smit 
■  Qaioklj.        ■  Huigcd.        •  Gin.        *  Kecdve.        '  Death. 
•  Huidle,  Su.         T  Dttad. 


uL,  Google 


GUT  oi'  WAKwicK.  233 

WitL  well  great  heart-tene ; 
Ac  he  foiled  of  his  dent. 
And  the  BTord  into  the  eartii  i\ent 

A  foot  and  more,  I  wene. 
And,  with  Colbrand's  ont-draDght, 
Sir  Quy,  with  ax,  a  etxoke  him  raug^t 

A  wound  that  was  well  seen; 
So  nnartlich  he  smote  Colbrand, 
Hiat  his  right  arm,  with  all  hie  hand. 

He  struck  off  quite  and  clean. 
When  Colbrand  feld  him  so  smite. 
He  was  well  wrath,  ye  may  well  wite. 

He  gan  his  sword  up-fond,' 
And  in  his  left  hand  np  it  haf  ;* 
And  Guy  in  the  neck  a  stroke  him  gaf, 

As  he  stooped  for  the  brand, 
Hat  his  heved  from  the  body  he  smot, 
And  into  the  earth  half  a  foot, 

Thorough  grace  of  Ck>dia  sond. 
Dead  he  fell'd  the  glutton  there; 
The  Danes,  with  sorrow  and  care. 
They  dight  hem  out  of  lend. 
Six  Oav,  cairied  in  trinmph  to  Winchester,  seemed  to  take 
no  share  in  the  general  exultation.    Scarcely  was  he  disarmed, 
when  he  demanded  his  Klavain,  and  departed  without  deign- 
ing to  satisfy  the  curiosity  of  the  nobles  or  people  concerning 
the  name  of  their  gallant  deliverer ;  nor  did  Athelstan  himself 
obtain  a  communication  of  the  secret,  till  he  had  given  a 
Bolemn  promise  not  to  reveal  it  before  the  expiration  of  twelve 
montiis.     Sir  Quy,  careless  of  wealth  and  honour,  and  even 
indifferent  to  the  caresses  of  fi^endship,  disengaged  himself 
from  the  importunate  kindness  of  his  sovereign,  and  proceeded 
to  Warwick. 

The  disconscdate  Felice,  during  the  long  interval  of  his 
absence,  had  passed  her  whole  time  in  acts  of  devotion  or  of 
charity.  Her  husband,  presenting  himself  at  her  gate  in  his 
pilgrim's  weeds,  was  invited  into  the  hall;  was  plentiiully 
entertained;  and  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  witnessing,  unknown 
and  unsuspected,  ner  daily  observance  of  those  duties  to 
'  Grief.  '  Kmi  ij,  geocndlj,  to  aUemft:  her*  it  meuu  to  raite  trUh 
^rt.        '  Hon,  hesTBd. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


2M  EAKIT  EirauSH  KBTKICU.  ROUANCES. 

irtiicb  he  liad,  long  tinee,  deroteai  ^k  Temainder  of  his  life. 
Unwilling  to  withdraw  her  bora  these  eahitaTy  punoits,  he 
^ain  departed  imknowa,  taking  widi  him  a  sin^  po^  »b  an 
attendant,  and  retired  to  a  solitary  heTmitage  in  the  forest  of 
Ardenne,  where  he  was  advertised  hf  an  angel  of  his  ap- 
proaching diaaolntion.  He  then  dispatched  his  page  to  Felice 
with  the  gold  ring  whieh  he  had  receiyed  from  her  at  parting, 
and  adjujied  her  to  come  and  give  direetjons  for  his  faiuiaj. 
She  arrived;  famid  him  djing;  received  hie  last  breath;  and, 
haTii^  Burvived  him  only  fifteen  days,  waa  buried  in  the  same 

Ihe  author  of  the  romavce  now  dmdca,  aad  certainly  not 
without  reason,  that  it  is  time  to  take  some  Bodce  of  Heraud. 
We  have  left  this  unfixlnaatewamor  in  a  dungeon  on  the  coast 
of  A&ica ;  where,  dimng  a  long  series  of  yeara,  his  only  occu- 
pation or  amusement  was,  to  bemoan  his  pzesettt  misery,  or  to 
relate  the  etonee  of  Ins  ibrmer  pn>i»«ss,  without  being  able  to 
awaken  the  compaaaioa,  oi  even  exeile  the  attention  of  his 
gaolers. 

But  the  monarch  by  iriiom  he  was  detained  in  captivity, 
having  incautiously  engaged  in  a  war  with  Aragus,  who  is 
alreac^  known  to  the  readear  as  tlie  patron  ot  young  Bayn- 
bum,  was,  after  many  defeatB,  at  length  besieged  inhiae^tal, 
and  on  the  point  of  being  forced  to  surrender.  In  this  extxe- 
Toity,  he  leumed  firom  one  of  his  attendanla  who  had  accideU' 
tally  overheard  the  complaints  of  the  unfortunate  priaaaer, 
that  his  ci4)tive  was  no  other  than  the  iUustrious  Ilcraud,  the 
aeooad  hero  of  Christendom.  Overjoyed  at  this  intelligenoc^ 
the  king  instantly  ordered  him  into  his  presence,  requested 
the  aid  of  his  arm,  and  ofiered  his  freediMU  as  the  reward. 
The  offis  waa  accepted;  and  Heraud,  thou^  weakened  W 
abstinence,  beuumhsd  bj  inactiTity.  and  probably  itot  mn^ 
improved  by  old  age,  was  no  sooner  bathed  and  well  Eed,  than 
he.  fiumd  himself  at  once  restored  to  all  his  ibrmer  vigour. 
Being  presented  with  a  suit  of  armour,  he  sjHinga  upcm  his 
horse,  sallies  out  against  the  enemy,  oversets  all  who  oppose 
him,  and  is  ou  the  point  of  killing  Aiagus  himself;  when  he  is 
suddenly  called  upon  to  defend  himself  ^;ainst  ^le  temble 
Sayubuin. 

To  Heriiand  that  knight  gan  sayn, 
"  Thou  rAi  coward,  tum  again! 


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avr  ar  wixwiax.  SSS 

Tiaa  thatdect'  ny  loid  vitfa  -riBamr; 
Therefine,  dinrl,  tboa  Aait  obyel " 

Herand,  unnBed  to  soch  repnmdieB,  tulvmces  to  meet  his 
doughtjr  assailant,  and  a  drndfiil  cxnabnt  ensues;  during 
which  the  old  knight,  astoniahed  at  ttie  wei^  of  Baynbum's 
blows,  repeatedly  adjorea  Um  to  rereal  Us  name.  The  young 
hero,  feanng  that  this  nugfat  be  comrtmed  as  a  sign  of  fear,  ob- 
stinately refiiaes ;  but  «t  fengtii,  being  won  by  the  modesty  and 
courtesy  of  his  rererend  Bxtagoniat,  consoite  to  an  expliuia.tion, 
the  result  of  which  is,  dat  the  champions  rush  into  each  other's 
arms,  and  amicably  depart  tqgeQier,  to  the  great  astonish- 
ment of  their  respective  soiverragns,  who,  being  equally  unfit 
for  the  further  conduct  of  the  war,  are  eamly  induced  to  a 
■imilnr  reconciliation. 

The  preceptor  and  bis  pupil,  after  riding  till  Hie  approach 
of  night  wiumat  meeting  widi  any  city,  town,  or  village, 
began  to  grow  impatient  for  a  rJaoe  of  dtnter,  when  they  very 
luckily  discovered  a  castle  in  themidBtof  aptain.  Here  they 
had  Uie  good  fortune  to  meet  with  a  »ery  civil  and  talkative 
pwter;  who,  after  infonmt^  diem  that  the  eaatk  belonged  to 
a  lady,  and  that  sbe  was  in  great  affliction  for  Ae  loss  of  her 
husband,  hastened  to  her  widt  the  infiwmation  of  dieir  arriral, 
and  speedily  returned  with  an  order  for  their  instant  admis- 

Then  come  squires  md  servance. 

And  took  tiieir  swordes  Bad  their  lance ; 

The  lady  them  kept  with  honour, 

And  unhwed  their  armour. 

That  night  tbey  had  good  rest. 

And  meat  and  drink  of  the  baft. 
"  Madam,"  said  Heihand  the  bold, 
"What  hight  your  lord?"  andriiehimtf^ 

She  said  *' Antys  of  the  mountain; 

The  bcrt  knigkt  of  dii*  bwd.  eertoiK. 

Here  bende,  an  elvish  knight 

Hath  taken  my  lord  in  fight, 

And  ha^  him  led  with  hna  away 

lato  the  Faiij,  nr,  par  ma  fey." 
"  Wbb  Amys,"  quod  Herhaud,  "  your  boabeadt 
'  Cmnst  lain  to. 


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236  EAKLT    XHOLISK    KETSIC1.L    BOILUTCEB. 

A  doo^tiet*  knigfat  iras  none  in  land! " 

Then  told  Herfaaad  to  Rarabron, 

Eow  he  loTed  his  &tlier  Guyon. 

Hen  said  Baynbum,  "  For  thy  tako 
,    Tomorrow  I  shall  the  way  take, 

And  never  more  come  again 

Till  I  bring  Amys  of  the  mountain." 

Baynbum  rose  m  the  nomiiig  eaHy, 

And  armed  him  full  richly. 

He  aaid,  "  Heriiaud,  here  be  you; 

To  fetch  Amys  1  shall  go  now." 

Itaynbnm  rode  till  it  was  noon, 

TiQ  he  came  to  a  rock  of  stone; 

Hiere  he  found  a  etnmg  gate; 

He  bl«8Kd  him,  and  rode  in  thereat. 

He  lode  half  a  mile  the  way; 

He  Mw  no  light  that  came  of  day ; 

Then  came  he  to  a  wster  broad. 

Never  man  over  such  one  rode; 

Within  he  saw  a  place  green; 

Snch  ime  had  he  never  erst  seen. 

Within  that  place  there  was  a  palace, 

Cloaed  vith  walls  of  heathenness. 

The  walls  thereof  was  of  crystal. 

And  the  sommera  of  coraL 

Raynbmn  had  great  doubt  to  pass 

The  water,  so  deep  and  broad  it  was. 

And,  at  the  last,  his  steed  did  leap 

Into  the  broad  water  deep. 

Thirty  &thom  he  sank  down: 

Then  cleped  he  to  Qod  Baynbum. 

God  him  holpe,  his  steed  was  good. 

And  bare  him  over  that  hedeous  flood. 
Saynbum  now  diamountB,  and  after  wandering  for  some 
time  about  the  palace,  finds  in  a  dungeon,  a  kni^t,  who 
proves  to  be  Sir  Amys ;  by  whom  be  is  infijrmed  that  the 
elfish  knight  is  invulnei^e  by  common  weapons,  and  that  it 
is  necessary,  as  a  prelude  to  Ins  succesa,  to  poesea  himself  of 
nn  enchanted  aword,  «4iicli  he  will  find  hnnging  in  tbe  gteat 
hall.  Raynbum,  following  these  directions,  seizes  the  swotd, 
oamea  off  Sir  Amys,  is  pursued  1^  the  elfish  knight,  whom 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


ODT   OF  WABWICK.  237 

he  attacks  and  wounds,  and  compeb  to  pnrobaso  his  life  by 
the  Buirender  of  all  tlic  captives  whom  he  detained  in  hia 
enchanted  palace.  Raynbum  restores  Sir  Amys  to  his  lady, 
and  departs  with  Heraud. 

The  tr&TeUers  meet  with  no  ftuthei.  adventures  till  they 
arriTe  in  Bnrgnndy,  which  they  find  in  a  state  of  desolation, 
in  coDflcqnence  of  tlie  repeated  incnraions  of  a  certain  Earl 
Sany,  who,  though  not  very  formidable  from  his  own  Talour, 
has  the  good  fortune  to  retain  in  his  service  a  wonderful 
knight,  only  twenty  years  old,  but  hitherto  invincible.  This 
rarsgon  of  chivaliy  keeps  a  pass  in  the  mountains;  and 
Baynbum  is  of  course,  impatient  to  try  his  process.  The 
combat  between  these  yontMiil  rivals  for  fome  is,  as  might  be 
expected,  long  and  indeosive.  Raynbum  repeatedly  inquires 
the  name  of  his  oppmient— 

"Nay,"  said  the  kni^t,  "by  heaven  king 

I  shall  thee  tell  noUiing 

Till  thy  head  be  from  uiy  body ! 

For  h«<e  passed  no  man,  truly. 

But  that  I  slew  him  in  this  place ; 

So  shall  I  thee,  or  thou  pass! 

And  thine  old  churl  also. 

My  sword  shall  bite  his  neck  atwo." 
Itaynbom,  as  we  have  seen,  was  not  very  tolawit:  the 
combat  therefore  recommenced,  after  this  ungracious  answer, 
with  redoubled  lory;  bat  so  equal  were  the  strength  and  skill 
of  these  nntagGmists  that  the  victory  could  not  be  decided. 
At  length  Herand  interferes,  and  advises  the  young  knight  to 
for^o  the  contest,  and  yield  the  palm  to  Raynbum,  assuring 
him  that  he  is  equally  nch  and  liberal.  The  young  man  then 
condescends  to  ask  their  names,  observing,  Uiat  at  the  sight 
and  voice  of  Sir  Heraud,  he  feels  an  affray  of  which  he  had 
never  before  been  conscious.  Heraud  now,  in  his  turn, 
refuses,  and  the  young  knight  consents  to  speak  first.  Tbo 
reader  will  periiaps  bear  with  some  surprise  that  this  was  no 
other  than  Aslake,  Sir  Heraud's  son,  concerning  whose  birth 
and  education  we  have  no  informatibn  whatever,  and  that  the 
affray  occasioned  by  the  si^t  of  his  &ther  was  the  instinctire 
voice  of  filial  ofitotion.  The  young  hero  &Ils  on  his  knc«8, 
asks  for^veneffi  of  hia  &ther  and  of  Raynbum,  and  accom- 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


S^&LT  BMeLUH  KSTUCAI.  MOULSCEB. 


n<jw  u  tue  rtory  brought  to  ui  end. 

Of  Ony,  the  bold  baron  of  price. 

And  of  die  Ur  maid  FcJice, 

And  of  Ariike.  and  Sir  IUynbRn.~- 

Fkir  enanrnriM  men  ma^  len, 

WboaawiBliBtai  andlkeer, 

Tnw  to  lore,  late  and  eariy. 

As,  in  bns  life,  did  good  Sir  Ony : 

For  he  foraoolc  worldly  liODOiir, 

To  wane  God  his  ereatoiiT; 

"Wheiclbre  Jesn,  that  iras  of  a  maid  boTB 

To  boy  mau'i  amil  tbat  wm  faHoni, 

And  roee  from  death  the  third  day. 

And  led  man's  sool  from  hall  away, 

On  their  eonla  have  mercy! 

And  ye,  that  hare  heard  thia  stnry, 

God  give  you  all  his  blearing. 

And  of  his  grace  to  your  enoiag; 

And  joy,  aiid  bliaa,  that  ever  sull  be ! 

Amen,  Amen,  Sstr  charity  1 


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INTRODTJCTION  TO  SIR  BEVIS  OF  HAMPTOUN. 


"CUkdkr  "  te  ow  tlie  wmdi  of  Mr.  Rhson,  "with  dngolar 
MeciGt;,  i^«  thst,  at  the  contiag  in  of  the  Normaiu,  ana 
Bago,  or  Betmow,  a  Saxon,  had  thin  title  (of  Earl  of  Wia- 
(beatar);  vbo,  in  the  battle  of  CarfJT  in  Waks,  foo^ 
agamct  the  Nonnana.  For  this,  bowerer,  in  a  way  too  nsnal 
mh  him,  be  eites  no  nthontjr;  nor  does  any  ancient  or 
venunou  hiaterian  meatifHi  either  Bogo,  BeaTose,  or  the 
battle  of  Caidifi^"  Ico.  (Diascrt.  en  Romtmce  and  Minstnl^, 
p.  xGin.)  The  critic  then  makes  a  Tiolent  attack  on  ib. 
Warton,  for  Teprcaentinf  Beria  as  a  Saxon  chieftain;  but 
Wsrtw  probaUy  derived  hie  intdligence  from  Belden,  wiw. 
in  his  notea  on  the  Polj-Olbion  (canto  2,  p.  702  of  the  Svo 
edit.)  givca  the  Ml«wii^  aecoant : 

"  A^ut  the  Norman  isTHsion  waa  Bevie  fomons  with  the 
title  of  Earl  of  Sonthampton ;  Dnneton  in  Wihahire  known 
fin  hia  reaidence. — Hia  swtwd  ia  kept  oa  s  reliqne  in  Arandel 
Caatk;  not  eqaalling  in  lei^th  (aa  it  is  now  won)  that  oi 
Edward  III.  at  Weatminater." 

It  ia  muteoesBary  to  ny  that  Aeae  notices  are  not  of  soffi' 
cient  authority  for  oona&Tii^  fiiie  romance  to  be  fbnnded  on 
Saxon  tnditioii.     It  is  a  Inuidation  from  the  Anglo-Nonaan. 

Sir  Bevia,  whatever  may  be  hia  demerita,  appean  to  have 
djoyed  a  hi^  degree  of  pt^mlarity.  lln-ee  MS.  copies  of 
this  romance  in  BngliBfa  vene,  are  still  extant  in  oar  public 
librariea;  viz.  in  the  Andiiuleck  3£9.  of  the  AdTocates' 
Libmry,  Edinboi^;  in  the  Public  Library,  Cambridge;  and 
in  that  of  Cttiiu  College.  A  fbnrtii  (Dr.  Monro's)  was  in  the 
poasession  of  the  Iste  Dr.  Fanner.  Of  tiie  printed  editions, 
the  earliest  and  most  valitable  was  that  of  Pynson.  of  whieh  a 
copy  ia  possessed  by  Mx.  Douce;  two  were  printed  by  Copland, 
and  one  by  East     Those  of  later  date  are  more  numerous. 

The  following  abstract  was  principally  taken  fiiim  the 
Ouus  Coll.  MS.  .the  oniisaiona  in  which  hare  been  generally 
supplied  by  Pydaon's  printed  copy. 


uL,  Cookie 


SIR    BE  VIS. 


The  Earls  of  Southampton,  being  poasesMd  of  territories 
which  it  was  frequently  nccessair  to  defend  against  foreign 
invasion,  were  always  distiiiguished  bj  saperior  -valour  and 


toe  pTepnrmg  to  relate.  Sir  Guy,  constantly  occupied  during 
his  youth  in  enterprises  undertaken  for  the  security  or  enlaige' 
ment  of  his  dominions,  had  unfortunately  never  thought  of 
matrimony,  till  he  was  past  the  prime  of  life,  when  he  chose 
a  wife  many  years  younger  than  himself,  distinguished  by  her 
high  birth  and  nnnvalled  bean^.  Our  author  remarks  that 
such  a  choice  was  very  imprudeut;  and  as  liis  remarks  are 
not  always  equally  just,  we  take  great  pleasure  in  recording 
this  instance  of  his  sagacity. 

In  fiict,  this  haugh^  iair  one,  who  was  daughter  to  the 
King  of  Scotland,  haJd  long  since  bestowed  her  affections  on  a 
younger  lover,  Sir  Uurdour,  brother  to  the  £mpeiDr  of  AI- 
mayne  ■.  it  was  therefore  with  a  Teij  bad  grace  that  she  sub- 
mitted to  the  positive  commands  of  her  biher,  who  preferred 
to  this  illustrious  son-in-law  an  alliance  with  the  stiu^y  Karl 
of  Sonthampton.  She  aubmitted  however :  she  became  the 
mother  of  Bevis,  for  whom  she  never  felt  a  mother's  affection; 
and  continued,  during  eight  years,  to  share  the  bed  of  a  hus- 
band whom  she  hated,  and  whose  confidence  she  studied  to 
acquire  for  the  sole  purpose  of  insuring  his  destruction. 

Having  matured  her  project,  and  gained  over  to  her  in- 
terests a  nnmher  of  her  husband's  vassals,  she  selected  a 
trusty  mcaeenger  whom  she  directed  to  salute  her  lo^-er  on 
her  part, 

"  And  bid  him,  on  the  first  day. 
That  Cometh  in  the  month  of  May. 

Howso  that  it  be, 
TTiat  he  be  with  his  ferde'  prest,' 


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SIB  SXTIS  OP  BlMrXOVX.  Sll 

For  to  fight  in  that  forert 
Upon  the  sea: 

Thider  I  wol  mj  lord  send. 

For  his  lore,  for  to  ichende,' 
With  little  meynfe," 

And  say,  that  it  be  nought  bileved,* 

That  he  ne  amyte  off  his  hered, 
And  send  it  me." 
Six  Hurdoor  returned  an  answer  ezpreBsiTe  of  the  warmcet 
gntitade,  and  joyftdly  tmdertook  bis  share  of  this  atrocioiu 
pidect  He  assembled  a  small  troop  of  armed  knights,  em- 
faanced  with  them,  landed  near  Souuiampton,  and,  taking  his 
gtatjaa  in  the  forest,  patiently  waited  for  his  victun.  In  the 
mean  time  the  lady  appeared  to  be  suddenly  indisposed;  and, 
Msding  for  her  lord,  informed  him,  that  "  an  evil  on  her  was 
fiill«,"  and  that  she  longed  to  eat  of  the  flesh  of  a  wild  boar 
from  bis  forest,  such  food  being  a  sovereign  remedy  for  her 
(Bsease.  Sir  Ovy,  without  hesitation,  undertook  to  procure 
flie  object  of  her  wishes;  and,  riding  into  the  forest  with  his 
hounds,  was  soon  encompasGed  by  the  troops  of  his  treacherous 
riyal,  who  after  bidding  bim  ddBance,  and  avowing  his  pur- 
pose of  murder,  magnanimously  assaulted  the  defenceless  veto- 
ran.  A  few  attendants,  who  had  followed  their  master  to  the 
chase,  instantly  fled  in  confiision ;  but  the  carl  himself,  thougli 
novided  only  with  a  simple  boar  spear,  evaded  the  lance  of 
his  antagonist,  threw  him  from  bis  horse  upon  ^e  ground, 
and,  drawing  his  trusty  sword,  defended  himsdf  wito  mich 
ASl  and  courage  that  a  hundred  of  bis  assailants  soccessively 
fen  beneath  his  blows.  The  victory  was  long  doubtful;  but, 
his  horse  being  killed  imder  him,  the  knight  was  at  length 
overpowered  by  numbers,  and  kneeling  to  Sir  Murdour,  who 
tnu  now  replaced  on  his  horse,  earnestly  prayed  that  he  might 
be  permitted  to  seek  a  more  glorious  death,  and  not  perish  by 

[assasaiuation.  His  base  antagonist  replied  by  a  blow  whitm 
severed  the  head  of  the  sup^iant  from  his  shoulders ;  and, 
having  fixed  it  on  a  spear,  sent  it  to  his  mistress  as  the  stipu- 
lated price  of  her  afifection. 

Bevis  was  at  this  time  only  seven  years  old;  but  so  pre. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


242  xi^Ri.!  xnoLua  rnizic^z  BOiCAJtczs. 

matnra  were  hia  itrengtb  and  coangt,  diat  his  Tumatiml 
motber  considered  herself  and  her  loTer  as  insecure  durinx 
Hie  life  of  the  infant  hero.  Helmdbe«af<»tAied  by  bispatmi^ 
imcle,  ^"^"^.ni  tf""i</ hill  iiiiiiiiliili  iiiiiii  of  whom  she  fera- 
cJoiulr^emunded  the  muTder  of  her  ^lild  as  the  first  proof  of 
his  all^iance.  Sober  did  not  risk  a  dUrect  re&ml,  but,  having 
killed  a  pig,  sprinkled  the  garments  of  Sir  Bevia  with  the 
blood,  and  sent  them  to  the  coontess  as  an  evidence  of  his 
mbnuBsioD  i  while  he  disguised  ^ia  foster  son  in  the  kahii  of 
a  peasant,  and  enjoined  hun  to  tend  hie  flock*  on  the  nei^ 
hoQiinR  oommon.  He  however  promised  lus  piqxl  to  retixe 
with  hun,  as  soon  as  possible,  iido  Wales,  to  toe  court  of  an. 
eail  to  whom  thej  were  related,  aiul  bj  whose  assistsnce  he 
might  hope,  when  arrived  at  maturer  age,  to  regain  his  paixi- 
mony,  and  to  revenge  the  death  of  Sir  Guy  on  the  adulteroni 
couple  by  whom  his  earldom  wo*  niurped. 

Bevis  submitted  with  patience  to  tne  necessary  change  of 
dren,  and  quietly  followed  his  sheep  to  the  downs;  frtm 
whence  he  surveyed  the  palace  so  lately  occupied  by  his  noUe 
fiither,  and  vunly  endeavoured  to  suppress  the  rage  asd 
indignation  which  suc^  ao  object  exdted.  But  when  he 
heard  the  sounds  of  minstrel^,  which  proclaimed  the  inde* 
cent  revelries  of  his  mother  and  of  her  base  panuoonr,  he  was 
■eised  with  a  paroiyem  of  ungovernable  fiuy,  and,  forgetdng 
the  cautious  advice  of  Saber,  precipitately  ran  to  the  castle 
and  prepared  to  make  his  way  into  the  hall.  The  porter, 
calling  him  "  whoreson  harlot,"  attempted  to  turn  him  back 
from  the  gate;  but  Bevis,  after  telling  him  that  he  accepted 
the  first  epithet,  but  utterly  disclaimed  the  second,  knocked 
him  down,  advanced  into  the  hall,  and,  after  a  few  opprobrioos 
exclamations  against  his  mother  and  Sir  Murdour,  applied  hie 
cudgel  so  successfully  to  the  head  of  the  latter,  that  at  the 
third  blow  he  laid  him  Hcnseless  on  the  floor.  The  couid«sa 
Tainly  ordered  her  attendants  to  seize  the  traitor;  the  knights 
were  all  benumbed  and  motionless  with  astonishment,  and 
inSbred  the  child  to  retire  without  opposition. 

Bevis,  who  at  seven  years  of  age  had  knocked  down  two 
fltout  men  in  one  day  wiUi  his  cudgel,  was  much  better  satis- 
fied with  hia  adventure  than  was  his  uncle  Saber,  whom  he 
met  on  his  return,  and  to  whom  he  related  thus  laconically 
what  had  passed : 


uL,  Google 


«IB  BBTis  07  KAvrxonM. 

**  I  w^  tiiee  telle  altogec^; 
Beaten  I  have  my  Btep-fa^rt 

With  my  niBOP.. 

llirice  I  emote  Iiim  od  the  lieTed; 

in  snoon  I  him  by 

a  that  iilce  place." 

Sftber  taid,  "  Thou  ait  to  bkme; 

lite  lady  wtd  do  xte  ahome 

All  for  thy  sake! 
Bnt  thou  -wilt  by  coonsel  do. 
Thou  might  soon  bring  na  two 
Into  midile  make*." 
But  QAtr  ma  nnable  to  derise  any  connsd  worth  folloW' 
ing.  Scaieely  had  he  reu^ied  his  dwelling  whetk  the  angry 
ooonteM  vaa  annomiced:  and  the  only  contrivance  whicb  nu 
ingenuity  suggested  waa,  to  lock  his  nephew  into  an  adjoining 
cloaet.  She  reproached  him  vrith  disobedience  of  orders; 
and,  having  easily  cooflited  all  his  eyasiona,  ordered  him 
instantly  to  produce  her  son,  on  pain  of  incurring  the  moet 
terrible  effects  of  her  displeasure.  Beris,  who  overheard  her 
threats,  hastened  to  show  himself;  when,  calling  two  of  lier 
attendant  knights,  she  ordered  them  to  lead  the  tdiild  to  the 
port,  and  to  fl'  ^■'"  "-  °  ilfl.'-"  to  the  captain  of  any  ship  who 
might  be  preparing  to  sail  into  Hcathenness.  lliMe  ina&uc- 
ticma  we  ponctually  executed;  and  Bevis,  after  a  loog  but 
TOMperona  Toyage,  was  carried  to  the  court  of  Ermyn,  a 
Q^qucen  kii£,  of  whose  dominions  our  author  has  neglected  to 
aaoertain  the  boundaries,  thou^  he  has  described,  pretty 
sccmalely,  the  state  of  his  &mily. 

His  wife  was  deed  that  hight  Marage ; 
He  had  a  daughter  of  young  age, 
jocyan  that  maiden  hete*; 
nte  shoon*  were  gold  upon  her  feet. 
So  white  she  was,  and  tail  of  mood, 
80  is  the  anew  on  red  blood, 
Wberto  should  I  that  maid  descrive? 
fflie  was  the  &ireBt  thing  on-live; 
She  waa  so  bend,  and  ao  well  ytaught; 
Bnt  of  Christian  law  ne  couth  she  nought. 

'  LtA.     ■  Miidiicf.— At  thk  place  the  suthor  abindoiu  tha  (tinza  mas- 
SB*,  lod  idalM  tbE  i«at  of  the  stofr  is  complett.  ■  Wu  ealfad.   '  Shoes. 
B  2 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


244  E^XIT  SnaLtBH  METBICAL   SOMAirCES. 

Eimyn  beheld  with  astotushment  the  Btrengtli  and  beau^ 
of  3^iuig  Beris;  and,  having  questioned  him  concerning  his 
country  and  parentage,  vaa  much  delighted  with  the  siin- 
plicity  and  conciseness  of  his  answers.  He  declared  it  aa  hie 
opinion,  and  even  confirmed  the  declaration  by  an  oath,  that 
a  child  who  was  so  adroit  with  his  cudgel  could  not  &il  of 
possessing  unusual  prowess  when  of  age  to  wield  a  sword; 
tnt  which  reason  he,  at  the  instant,  prt^oeed  to  ihe  boy  the 
band  of  his  daughter  Jos3ran,  ti^ther  with  the  succession  to 
the  crown,  on  condition  of  his  renouucing  Christianity. 
Bevis,  who  had  been  inspired  wijh  a  strong  veneration  for  Ms 
religion,  and  felt  no  immediate  want  of  a  wife,  rejected  the 
O&r  without  hesitation,  at  the  eame  time  expressing  rather 
freely  his  contempt  for  the  Saracen  deities.  Fortunately. 
Emmi  was  disposed  to  be  pleased,  and  took  this  freedom  m 
good  part: 

And  said,  "  Whiles  thou  art  a  swain. 
Thou  shalt  be  my  chamberlain; 
And,  when  thou  art  dubbed  a  knight, 
My  banner  thon  shalt  bear  in  fight." 

Bevis  gratefiilly  accepted  these  offers,  and  continued,  during 
seven  years,  to  make  a  progress  in  the  affections  of  the  Sara- 
cen monarch,  as  well  as  in  those  of  the  beautiAil  Josyon. 

The  first  exploit  of  our  hero  was  of  a  very  dis^reeablc 
nature.  He  was  now  fifteen  years  old,  and  considered  by  all 
Ermyn's  subjects  as  a  miracle  of  strength  and  beanty.  On 
Cbristmaa  day,  he  happened  to  be  riding  ont  in  company  with 
sixty  Saracen  knights,  one  of  whom  asked  him  if  he  was  aware 
vhat  day  it  was.  Bevis  replying  that  he  did  not  know,  the 
other  assured  him  that  it  was  the  festival  of  Christ's  nativity ; 
and  a  second  knight  added,  that  it  could  not  but  scandalize 
them,  who  were  accustomed  to  treat  their  gods  with  due 
reverence,  to  observe  his  inattention  to  his  most  sacred  duties. 
Bevis  answered,  that  having  been  sold  as  a  slave  at  seven 
years  old,  and  since  that  time  surrounded  by  Heathens,  he 
had  no  means  of  information  rcspectiug  the  religious  obser- 
^■ancee  attached  to  his  &ith ;  but  tnat  if  oe  were  then  a  knight, 
as  his  fether  had  been,  and  properly  armed,  he  would,  in 
honour  of  the  true  Qod,  readily  undertake  to  just  with  the 
whole  company;  and  trusted  that,  in  such  a  cause,  be  ooukl 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


8IB  BXTIB  OT   HAUPTOtlX.  243 

nnlioTse  them  all,  one  afler  the  oUier.  The  Saraoen  knighu. 
inoensed  at  this  speech  from  a  yonng  page,  inetuitly  deter- 
mined to  pnniah  his  inaolenoe;  and  being  all  armed  with 
vwords,  wounded  him  very  sereiely  before  he  had  the  means 
of  ipi'lt'"g  any  defence.  But  at  length,  having  wrested  a 
sword  from  the  hand  of  one  of  his  assailants,  he  exerted  him- 
self so  succeeafully  as  to  kill  them  alL  The  hones  ran  home 
to  the  stables,  and  excited  a  general  curiosity  respecting  the 
&te  of  their  riders ;  while  Bevia,  &tigued  with  his  exploit, 
and  amarling  under  his  wonnds,  followed  at  bis  leisure,  tied 
up  his  horse,  retired  into  his  own  room,  and  throwing  himself 
<m  the  floor,  prepared  to  wait  as  patieatl;  as  be  could  till  it  should 
please  Heaven  to  i^imiTiiaTi  the  pain  which  he  then  sufibrcd. 

Ermyn,  though  Long  trained  to  the  use  of  power,  bod 
^waya  been  occustamed  to  dispense  with  the  trouble  of  reflec- 
tion. He  generally  acted  &om  the  first  impulse,  and  this 
unpulse  was,  at  present,  unfiiTourable  to  bis  yoiuig  cbamber- 
lain.  It  was  observed  to  him,  that  there  would  be  no  end  of 
dubbing  knights  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  them  killed  by 
Bevis;  it  was  evidently  shorter  to  put  him  to  death;  and 
therefore  Ermyn  resolved  on  orderina  Bevis  to  immediate 
execation.  But  Josyan  having  advised  that  he  should  exert 
his  royal  sagacity  in  examining  the  cul^trit,  he  come  over  to 
this  opinion ;  and  the  princess,  who  wished  for  some  previous 
conversation  with  her  avonrite,  dispatched  two  of  her  knights 
with  orders  that  they  should  ctmduct  Bevis  into  her  presence. 

He  was  still  lying  on  the  floor,  in  great  pain,  and  veij 
much  out  of  humour ;  insomuch  that,  liaving  barely  raised  his 
head  oa  the  arrival  of  the  two  knights,  he  told  tbem,  that 
were  it  not  tot  the  respect  he  bore  to  tie  sacred  character  of 
messengers,  he  should  have  punished  with  instant  death  their 
impertinent  inb'usion;  and  added 

I  ne  will  gon  a  foot  on  ground. 
To  speaken  with  an  heathen  bound ! 
At  the  seme  time  his  eyes  flashed  with  indignatian;  and  the 
frightened  knights,  t^inkirg  that  tbey  saw  around  li'""  the 
ghosts  of  their  six^  countrymen,  hastened  back  with  this  vei^ 
unoonrteous  message  to  Josyan,  who  only  smiled  at  their 
terrors,  and,  promising  to  be  their  safeguard,  returned  with 
them  to  Bevis. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


346  EABLT   Z3GXISB  MZTBICAI.  SOXUTOSa. 

JoKjiu  c*st  her  tnoB  ftbouten  lus  swae* ; 
On  her  be  made  *  lothlj  cheer. 
She  kilt  him  on  mouth  and  on  ^iin. 
And  began  to  comfort  him. 
He  taid,  "  Mercy,  Joayan,  thine  ore*! 
I  am  wounded  gwithe  «»«." 
"Sweet  leman,"  she  said,  in  hast, 
"  I  Eun  a  leech  with  the  best! 
No  better  aalre  I  undcratoDd 
Ne  is  in  ail  Paynim  load. 
Than  I  have  bron^t  with  me; 
And  I  wol  thy  warrant  be!"  /. 

Bat  before  dte  imdertook  the  cure,  it  was  neMMWf  that 
ehe  should  coodnct  him  to  ber  fether;  in  whoso. presence  he 
Telated,  with  his  usual  simplicity,  the  whole  adventoie ;  and 
BDch  was  the  el^ct  of  his  eloquence,,  or  rather  of  hia  paBid 
oomitenimce  and  almost  nnmberlese '  wounds,  that  nmyn 
buret  into  tears,  and  e^iressly  oommanded  hia  d^^tet  to 
exert  all  her  leech-craft  in  his  behalf,  loayan  vny  wilbB^y 
^.conducted  her  patient  to  hia  chamber, 

lliere  they  kiucden  hem  AiU  oft. 
And  she  healed  him  twytbe  mtSu 
So,  within  a  little  stound. 
Be  was  both  whole  and  aotuid ; 
And  all  so  fierce  fiir  to  fight 
So  is  the  fitlcon  to  the  flight. 
Thus  ended  this  perikos  adiBntnre:  and  the  minatiri,  un- 
willing to  attempt  too  laahly  the  narration  of  aaotber  equally 
terrible,  here  interpoaea  the  foOowing  admoaitorf  couplet — 
For  the  time  that  God  made, 
Fill  the  cup  and  make  as  ^sd. 
There  was  in  the  royal  fiareet  a  wild  boar,  who  had  long 
been  the  terror  of  Brmyn'a  court.     Hia  sise  wm  enormoos, 
l^is  hide  BO  thick  as  to  Im  invulnerable,  and  his  tuska  ao  shaip 
that  no   common  armoor    could  withstand  them ;    besides 
which,  be  was  distinguished  from  other  boars  by  a  cootemp- 
tnoos  disregard  for  beech-mast  and  acorns,  and  by  on  on- 
natnral  predilection  for  human  flesh,  which  he  gnitifled  at  the 
1  Neck.  ■  Gnu»,&T(niT. 


UK  BETIB  or  BAKPTOOlr.  247 

^tftamt  ^  aH  tiwae  who  Tentnred  to  attack  hun.  Berts, 
fii^lii^  hia  ttrengtli  nsbortd,  began  to  consider  of  tiie  best 
modes  <rf  emplovinR  it;  and,  one  ni^it,  vhiltt  he  Uf  in  bed, 
hekily  betbongbt  oistaelf  of  the  boatr.  In  the  mcsning  he 
Mddled  hia  bone;  took  a  good  diield  tatd  epeat,  blether 
with  an  exoelleDt  awoid;  iparred  acroes  the  ptain  with  « 
grace  which  further  captivated  the  bhr  Josjran,  who  beheld 
him  from  hei  window;  and,  when  anired  at  the  forett,  dia- 
xtonBted,  tied  his  hone  to  a  tree,  awl  began  to  blow  his  horn. 
The  boar,  whether  from  aleepinen,  or  fraa  a  natwml  indiSer- 
csce  to  BHch  mwc,  UxA  no  notka  of  the  defiance;  and  Sir 
Beria,  constantly  adrancing,  blowing  hk  hc»n,  and  seavdii^ 
every  tUdtet,  *'^ii  tift  itf^wir  of  mcetiD*  hie  enem;,  iriien 
be  was  directed  to  the  VHEbbL's  j^n.b^^enimiiui  bones  with 
which  the  road  was  almost  whoDjf.conred.  He  then  tkos 
taontuigty  addieawd  hia  ant^tmiat: 

"  Siae,"  be  said,  "  thoo  fiml  beast. 
And  gainst  me  batayle  thou  luiat!" 
Vhen  the  boar  of  Bevig  had  an  eye. 
He  set  hie  bristles  all  ea  high ; 
He  stared  with  his  e;en  hollow, 
S^t  as  Beris  he  would  swdQow; 
"  Of  thee,"  said  Bevis,  "  I  have  mervail! 
Well  have  I  set  my  travail." 
llu  hanting-ipesr  whidi  oar  hem  had  chosen  for  tbi» 
oeeaarai  waa  vi  unoanal  atitt^Ut,  but  it  was  shivued  at  the 
TOiy  £iat  maet.     The  swoid  was,  fortunately,  so  well  tem- 
peied  that  it  did  not  break  in  his  Iwnd ;  bat  he  toou  peneived 
that  it  made  no  more  impression  on  the  boar  than  it  wonld 
have  done  on  a  rodt.  of  ufurble.     But  his  inefibctual  exertionB 
were  very  bti^ning;  hia  aitaation  became  every  moment 
more  diaooviagmg;  and  in  a  ehmt  prayer,  which  he  iittereS" 
with  great  devatioo,  the  fidnting  hero  con&saed  that  he  had 
no  herpes  <rf  micoeas  but  from  the  mercifiil'  interpomtion  of 
heaven.     During  this  time  his  antagonist,  whose  temper  was 
natutally  choleric,  and  perhaps  rendered  more  so  t^  the 
iD&nunatOTy  nature  cf  his  iavourite  food,  began  to  be  di  hia 
tun  muoh  diatreaaed  by  the  e&cts  of  his  own  impetooaity; 
and,  being  laaaUe  to  reach  his  too  nimble  enemy,  became 
alaoat  uuid  with  liiry,  and   teeattJcaa   txmo.  csbamtion. 


j„.„_,  Cookie- 


248  EA^BI.Y   ENOLIBH   KETSICAJ.  BOXi.KCES. 

Beria,  perceiving  tliat  the  pantan^  animal  was  nnable  to  dose 
his  jaW8  without  risk  of  aofibcation,  instantly  seized  this  ad- 
vantage; and,  when  the  boar  attempted  to  r^ain  hia  den. 
met  him  in  hb  full  career,  and  plunged  the  sword  down  his 
throat.  Hiis  blow  was  deciuTe.  "nie  hero,  who  from  his 
long  education  in  a  royal  court  was  an  adept  in  earring,  now 
fleroied  the  head  frtnn  the  body;  and,  placing  it  on  the 
truncheon  of  his  spear,  bore  it  off  in  triomph. 

During  the  life  of  this  boor,  the  keepras  of  the  royal  forest 
never  Tentnred  to  go  their  rounds  except  in  ccnnplete  armour, 
and  in  numerous  companies.  Twelve  of  these  nappening  tn 
meet  Bevis  on  his  retom,  and  perceiving  that  he  was  quito 
unarmed  (his  swcn^  having  been  accidentally  left  with  the 
body  of  the  animal),  resolved  to  wrest  from  him  the  fruits  of 
his  victory.  He  had  just  emei^ed  from  the  forest,  and 
atrived  within  sight  of  the  tender  Josyan,  who  fium  ber 
tower  had  been  anxiously  watching  for  bis  return,  when  he 
was  suddenly  assailed  by  the  company  of  twelve  armed  &r~ 
esters.  But,  though  armed,  they  were  not  invulnerable;  and 
the  truncheon  of  a  spear  was  by  no  means  an  inefficient 
weapon  in  ^e  hands  of  Bevis.  At  the  firet  blow  it  came 
into  contact  with  the  helmets  of  three  of  these  assailants,  and 
scattered  their  brains  to  some  distance.  A  second  stroke  and 
a  third  were  repeated  with  equal  success;  and  the  three  sur- 
vivors having  made  a  timely  retreat,  Bevis  quietly  resumed 
the  boar's  head,  and  pursued  his  journey  to  the  palace;  where 
Gnnyn,  who  had  ab'^dy  learned  from  his  daughter  the  news 
of  this  astonishing  adventure,  received  him  with  open  aims, 
and  recommended  him  to  all  his  courtiers  as  a  perfect  model 
of  courtesy  and  valour. 

Soon  after  this,  an  embassv  was  received  from  Bradmond, 
king  of  Damascus,  whereby  that  monach  signified  ^is  wish  of 
espousing  the  fair  Josyan.  at  the  same  time  announcing,  that 
a  re&sal  of  the  princess's  hand  would  exdtc  great  indignation 
in  the  breast  of  the  aforesaid  Bradmond.  and  induce  him  to 
waste  with  fire  and  sword  the  whole  territory  of  Ermyn. 
I  This  mode  of  courtship,  it  must  be  confessed,  was  not  con- 
ciliatory. Ermyn  was  so  furiously  incensed,  that,  after  having 
summoned  his  barons,  he  was  unable  to  explain  very  intel- 
ligibly the  cause  of  his  indigniUion;  but  they  took  it  for 
gnmted,  and  collected  their  quotas  of  men,  which,  when 


uL,  Cookie 


US  BBTjs  OF  KAurrovs.  249 

united,  amounted  to  twentr  thoiuuid.  Jovran  now  repre- 
sented  to  her  &ther,  that  ae  would  do  well  to  confer  the 
honoiiT  of  knighthood  on  the  invincible  Beris,  vhose  single 
person  was  worth  at  least  half  a  doxen  aimies;  and  her 
advice  being  imptioitly  followed,  the  young  general  prepared 
far  the  battle. 

Bevia  did  on  his  acquetonn,' 

"Hiat  had  aughted*  many  a  town; 

A  hanberk  Josyan  him  brought, 

Soothly  a  better  was  nerer  y-wrought* 

A  helm  she  gave  him,  good  and  fiur, 

Here  might  no  thing  it  apayre. 

Hicn  gave  him  that  fiur  may* 

A. good  sword  that  hight  Uobolat: 

lliere  was  no  better  under  the  sun; 

Uany  a  land  therewith  was  won. 

Joeyan  gave  htm,  sithlhenv  a  steed, 

Tba  beat  that  ever  on  ground  yede; 

FnU  well  I  can  his  name  tell; 

Men  called  him  A^uimxi..  ^^ 

There  ma  no  horse  in  the  world  so  strong  i^ 

"Dm  might  him  follow  a  fhrlong. 

Bevis  in  the  saddle  light; 

JoKpat  smiled  that  was  so  bri^t. 

Bevia  gan  hia  bom  to  blow. 

That  his  host  should  him  know,  &C. 

Bradmond  tmstcd  Tery  much  to  the  hitiierto  unrivalled 
strength  of  his  standflrd-besTer,  the-giant  BtMlyson,  and  not 
less  to  the  vast  superiority  of  his  numbers;  insomuch  that, 
iriien  he  discovered  Beria  advancing  at  the  head  of  his  small 
troop,  he  thought  it  qwte  comical,  and  could  oat  refrain  from 
an  immoderate  fit  of  laughter.  The  battle  began  by  distinct 
skirmishing; 

But  when  that  they  had  broke  the  'ray. 

Fierce  and  mortal  was  that  fray! 
Bevis  began  by  driving  his  spear  through  the  huge  body 

■  A  widded  or  qnfltod  nlrtaiat  worn  nnder  tha  (ut  of  nudl,  bnt  often 
tlkan  tot  tbe  cost  of  mail  itwlf.     See  Halliwdl'i  Dkticaurj,  p.  16. 

■  Cost.  *  Impair,  hurt,  loaen  ia  nlse.  *  Maiil. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


3&0  EABLT    BIIOUSK    K^KICA^  fi,03U.IICES. 


of  Eadyson;  after  irhich  he  made  «  oome  of  experiments  to 

7  the  temper  of  his  award  Uor^laj,  and  tiaiimed  tjie  noks 
the  enemj-  with  snch  utooiabing  eapeditioo,  that  Biad- 
mond,  quite  cored  of  btB  mirth,  thimght  oulj  of  aeeoring  Ua 
retreat,  and  of  carrying  off  two  of  Ermvn'a  luughta.  Us 
pritonerB,  whom  he  had  taken  in  the  beginning  of  the  adiotL. 
But  in  thia  also  he  &ilcd.  Bens,  borne  with  the  rapidity  of 
■-  lightning  hy  the  incomparahle  Arundel,  quickly  overtook  the 
f^tivc,  felled  him  toother  with  his  horse  at  one  blow  to  the 
ground,  recovered  the  prisoners,  and  signified  to  his  prostrate 
enemy  that  he  could  only  obtain  permission  to  live,  by  taking 
a  solemn  oath  of  allegiance  and  feallr  to  the  once  despised 
Ennyn.  Bradmond  thought  this  condition  very  severe,  but 
fianlcly  confessed  that  be  thought  the  ]oei  of  life  still  more 
disngreeable ;  and,  having  repeated  the  formnla  which  con- 
stituted htm  the  vassal  of  King  Ermyn,  was  suffered  to 
demrt. 

The  conqueror  being  returned  to  court,  and  having  simply 
ond  modestly  related  his  succces,  and  the  important  conse- 
quences  which  it  secured,  was  received  with  transports  of 
gratitude  by  the  Idi^  who  immediately  ordered  his  daughter 
to  disarm  the  hero,  to  ck)th6  hbit  in  s  nuKoificmt  robe,  and 
to  serve  him  while  at  table. 

Ihesa  «M  Jo^mn  r^;kt  ^kI, 

And  to  ha  dumbfv  dte  him  lidde. 

She  set  him  soft  upon  a  bed. 

Boards'  were  laid  and  cloths  qread. 

When  she  had  unarmed  Bevia, 

To  the  boatd  she  him  led  y-wi». 

And  made  him  weQ  at  ease  and  fine. 

With  rich  meat  and  noble  wtn& 

When  that  they  badde  well  eateo. 

And  on  her  bed  together  sitten, 

Josytai,  that  was  so  true, 

Tlton^t  she  would  her  love  renew. 

She  said,  "  Beris,  lemmim*,  thine  ore! 

Than  I  can  teU  I  love  thee  more. 

Ceites,  Bcvis,  but  thou  roe  rede, 

Per  pvre  lore  i  iball  be  dead!" 
■  TiUts.  *  SmetliMrt;  loic 


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BIK  BKra  or  XAIUTOVK.  tn 

Then  B«i  J  Bevis.  "  Josyui.  bestiQ; 

Thon  speakeet  all  agaiiist  A31.' 

ThoQ  m^^tteat  hare  one  alhuilyche,* 

King  Bradmond  tliat  it  so  r7ch«. 

In  all  the  wivld  is  no  man, 

Fnoee,  king,  ne  Bowfam, 

fivt  tbej  mold  have  tbee  to  qoees, 

Gif  ther  hadde  thee  oitce  seen. 

I  am  a  knight  of  slnuge  fawd, 

I  have  no  more  than  I  in  atand." 
"  Mctot!  Bevia,"  said  ioBjaa, 
"  I  had  thee  liever  to  my  lemman. 

Thy  body  in  thy  shirt  all  naked.' 

Than  all  the  good  that  Mahoun  maked. 

Bevia,"  she  »id,  "  tell  me  thy  though!" 

Beria  sat  still,  and  spake  ri^^  nought; 

She  fen  down  and  wepte  sore ; 

She  said,  "  Ihou  saydeet  here  befive. 

There  is  no  king  that  me  hath  seen, 

Bnl  that  he  vould  have  me  to  queen; 

And  thoa  djadainett  of  me  so  ? 

See  thoB  out  of  my  chamber  ga: 

More  eomriy  it  were  thee  Hke 

For  to  hedge,  and  make  a  dyke, 

Thau  &»  to  be  duUied  a  knight. 

And  to  ait  mncmg  maidens  bri^. 

Oo,  (Avrl!  out  ^my  tare,* 

And  Maboan  gire  liiee  midde  earef 
"Damsel,"  he  said,  "I  am  bo  ebnrl; 

Uy- fatker  was  both  knight  and  esri ; 

Vnto  my  Doontry  I  will  me  hie." 

The  ^spnte  haying  now  degenerated  into  a  finmal  qnairel, 
Beria  returned  to  the  lady  elf  her  preseBta,  and,  biddung  her 
an  eternal  fkreweO.  retired  to  hia  chamber;  while  ^te,  supported 
by  the  feelings  of  injured  pride,  made  no  effort  to  detam  bim. 
Bat  no  sooner  was  uie  leQ  alone,  than  she  began  la  lament 
mo«t  bitterly  her  fbolisb  precipitation.  She  tukd  a  bTonrite 
and  confidential  diamberlain,  named  ^onilace,  whom  aha  iaa- 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


ample  a: 
had  bet 


352  KASLT  EITQLIBH   XKTBJCAX  BOKUTCKS. 

mediately  dintatehed  to  her  lover  with  a  mofit  penitential 
message,  conjuring  Mtn  to  return,  and  promising  to  moke 
e  amends  for  the  indiscreet  words  into  which  her  passiwi 
[  betrayed  her.  But  the  kni^t,  after  bestowing  on  her 
messenger  a  magnificent  present,  sturdily  declared  that  he 
would  not  stir  a  step  in  quest  c^  her  apolt^:  and  the  tender 
Joeytut,  anxious  to  procure  an  immediate  reconciliation,  has- 
tened tc  the  ^mrtment  of  her  lover,  met  his  ill-bnmonr  with 
the  most  wimung  complaisance,  and  finally  fivced  from  faim 
the  avoval  of  a  mutual  pMsion. 

"Mercy,"  she  said,  "mylenunan  sweet! 

(She  fyi  down  and  gan  to  weep). 
"  FoTeive  me  that  I  have  mis-said, 
I  wul  that  ye  be  well  apayed ! 
Hy  &lse  gods  I  will  forsue, 
Aod  CSirtstendcHn  for  thy  love  talce." 
"  On  that  covenant,"  said  Sir  Bevis  than, 
"  I  will  thee  love,  &ir  Josyan!" 
'^    Bevis,  it  seems,  had  endured  a  long  struggle  beween  his 
auction  and  iaa  piety ;  and  though  his  heart  had  always  done 
justice  to  the  incomparahle  channs  of  Josyan,  the  r^ection 
that  those  channs  belonged  to  a  htaihen  iomd  had  constantly 
checked  his  passion.     That  obstacle  was  now  removed  ; 


perfectly  unotmscious  that  tlie  severest  calamity  which  had 
ever  menaced  them  was  now  impending,  and  womd  produce  a 
long  interruptioa  of  their  happiness. 

It  will  be  lemembered  that  Sir  Bevis,  in  the  late  action,  had 
liberated  two  knights  captured  by  Bndmond.  Not  oooteut 
with  saving  them  &om  captivity,  ne  carried  them  to  his  own 
^Mrbaent,  entertained  them  magnificently,  and  admitted  them 
to  tlie  most  intimate  familiarity.  Thtf  had  thus  an  opportn- 
nilr  of  witnessing  the  interview  between  Bevis  and  Josyan; 
and,  hastening  to  the  king,  informed  him  that  his  daughter 
was  become  a  ren^ade,  and  was  preparing  to  form  an  indis- 
soluble connection  with  the  Christian  knight,  the  enemy  cf  his 

csfy'a  holy  religien. 

'  myn  was  much  disturbed  by  this  intelligence.  The  crimo 
'    fl  he  oould  not  pardim;  yet  it  was  neither  honour- 


najes^'s 
rdrmyn 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


.JIB  BETTS  Oy  HAKFTOITN.  253 

aUe  nOT  Wife  to  attempt  the  pablic  pnmshment  of  Sir  Berie. 
Bnt  the  treachenme  knights  presestly  removed  this  difficultjr 
l^  |»opoHiiig  that  a  letter, shovild  be  written  to  Kii^  Brad- 
mond,  chai^ii^  him  on  his  allegiance  to  secure  the  penon  of 
hk  Chriatiazi  nval,  and  that  Sir  Bevis  should  himaeu  be  the 
bearer  of  this  letter.  The  ne&riona  project  was  immediately 
executed ;  and  the  kni^t  readily  aooepted  the  embassy,  only 
expressing  his  wish  to  take  with  him  his  good  hone  and 
sword,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  himsdf  against  the  pro- 
bable treachery  of  Bradmond.  But  this  proposal  was  orer- 
raled  by  Ennyn,  who  observed,  that  such  precautions  were 
contrary  to  all  usage,  and  that  the  sacred  character  vrith 
which  he  was  invested  was  his  best  protection:  he  added, 
"  And,  Bevis,  thou  ahalt  unto  me  swear. 

Hut  thon  wilt  truly  my  letters  bear. 

And,  as  thou  art  true  man  lief^ 

Not  undo  the  print  of  my  brief." ' 
Hie  yotEOg  envoy,  without  considering  that  sealed  creden- 
tials were  much  more  contrary  to  usage  than  the  precaatianB 
which  he  had  desired  to  adopt,  took  the  oath  without  hesita- 
tion, and  departed,  full  of  confidence,  on  his  disastroos  mission. 
Bevis  was  seldom  provident.  Much  of  his  journey  lay 
throu^  an  uninhabited  country,  yet  had  he  taken  no 
measures  ftrr  his  subsistence;  so  that,  after  travelling  three 
days  with  all  the  speed  that  bis  ambling  hackney  could  exert, 
be  found  himself  very  sleepy  end  bunery.  He  then  lay  down 
to  net  during  a  few  hours,  and,  awakme  with  a  keener  appe- 
tite than  before,  pursued  his  way  through  the  forest,  where  he 
hod  the  good  fortune  to  discover  a  palmer  seated  at  his  dinner, 
which  consisted  of  a  plentiful  store  of  good  bread  and  wine, 
tMjether  with  die  unusu^  luxury  of  three  haked  curlews.  The 
p^irim,  perceiving  that  the  stranger  was  a  knight,'  liat&rf  Aw 
botmet  to  him,  aod  respecC^y  entreated  bim  to  share  his 
homble  repast;  to  which  Bevis  thankfully  consented,  nnd 
after  a  plentifiil  meal,  entered  into  a  conversation  with  his 
kind  entertainer.  He  now  discovered  that  this  palmer,  whose 
name  was  Terry,  was  the  son  of  his  uncle  and  ibster-fether 
Saber.  That  good  man,  unwilling  to  tear  Qie  tynnmy  of  Sir 
Mnrdour  and  his  wicked  wife,  hod  retreated  to  the  Isle  of 
I  Breik  not  the  sell  of  m;  letter. 


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355 

Sifl  stonM  were  ao  tiA  tad  bright 
Tint  aU  the  palMc^tooe  of  light. 
Berji  had  iwTer  befcis  00611  bo  maA  magmficence;  tml  he 
was  too  impMtient  to  hwe  time  in  aatisfying  hii  curiositj:  he 
pMsed  OB,  and  preaentlj  iMmd  himself  entangled  in  a  crovd 
at  Saracens,  who  were  preparing  k  sacrifice  to  an  idol  repre- 
I  seating  HabomeL  This  ol^isiTe  sight  anspendcd  in  ine  mind 
.  all  nodlection  of  his  boBineas  at  Damoscns;  he  pressed 
diFoa^  the  mnttitade.  foreed  his  way  to  the  idol,  eeizol  it  by 
its  gwden  crown,  and  threw  it  into  the  dirt,  desirioK  the 
]peo^  to  go  and  help  a  god  irtio  was  now  evidently  mco- 
paUe  of  helping  Hxm.  The  sudden  act  of  sacrilege  raised  a 
general  cry  of  indignation  against  the  insolent  stranger,  and  a 
tiiousand  hands  were  at  once  raised  to  seize  him;  but  Bevis, 
&oiigh  deprived  of  Moi^ay,  had  by  bis  side  a  common  sword, 
and  b^an  forthwith  to  cut  off  the  heads  of  his  assailants  with 
a  dexleri^  which  was  truly  nmrrellaas.  He  crowd  nm  with 
preciiHtation  towards  the  palace,  followed  by  the  nmbassaikr, 
who  continued  his  operations  till  he  reached  the  king's  {He- 
senoe;  when,  dropping  on  his  knees,  he  delivered  his  ciedoi' 
tials,  accompanying  them  with  on  taction  expressive  of  his 
ctmtempt  for  his  majesty's  sacred  person,  and  for  the  belicTeis 
in  Hahomct  of  all  ranlis  and  conditions. 

BradmMid,  taking  the  letter,  ordered  a  clerk  to  read  it,  and 
heard  its  (xmtentB  with  equal  surprise  and  pkasore.  After 
r«>roacbing  Bevis  with  hn  miprovoked  attack  on  the  people 
or  Diunascus,  and  on  the  wooden  Mahomet,  iriiose  vengeance 
had  so  suddenly  overtaken  him,  the  king  held  a  short  connoU, 
and  then  ordered  that  the  knight  should  be  seized,  and  con- 
fined in  a  deep  dungeon  inhabited  only  by  two  dnijpns,  who 
were  in  the  habit  of  deronring  their  fellow-prisoners;  and  at 
the  same  time  be  remarked  to  the  culprit,  that  the  generous 
and  gratcfiil  Ermyn,  for  whom  he  had  gained,  at  the  risk  of 
his  l^e,  a  decisive  victory,  was  the  real  author  of  this  sentence. 
Sir  Bevis  resisted  as  long  as  he  could,  and  destroyed  a  ctm- 
siderable  number  of  his  enemies,  when  his  sword  broke  in  his 
band,  and  he  was  at  length  secured,  his  arms  being  tied  be- 
hind bim  with  such  vi^ence  that  the  blood  burst  forth  from 
his  fingers'  ends.  He  was  now  conducted  into  the  great  baQ 
at  the  palsce,  placed  in  a  knight's  stall,  and  fed,  with  much 
appearance  c^  ceremony,  by  a  Saracen  kni^it,  the  king  at  dte 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


256  EABLY  X2(GLiaH  XXTRICAI,  BOXUTCEB. 

tttOB  time  recommending  lum  to  etit  with  a  good  appetite,  as 
he  now  saw  before  him  the  last  loxories  of  which  he  would 
ever  taste.  He  was  next  lowered  into  the  dungeon,  where 
hia  hands  were  unbound,  and  he  was  left  to  deiend  himself  as 
well  as  he  coold  against  the  two  j^agons,  trho  shortly  after 
made  their  appearance  and  attacked  Mm:  I}ut,  having  luckily 
found  the  truncheon  of  a  staff,  he  fought  the  monsters  during 
a  irtiole  d^  and  night,  and  ultimately  destroyed  them;  after 
which  he  oeToudy  returned  thanks  to  Heaven  tar  his  victory. 
Some  wheatbnm  was  daily  let  down  into  the  dungeon  fbr  his 
siqiport:  but  neither  meat  nor  com  was  allowed  to  him;  and 

Rats  and  mice,  and  euch  small  deer,' 

Was  his  meat  that  seven  year. 
While  Bevis  was  languishing  in  this  miserable  captivity, 
the  tender  Josyan  was  in  a  situation  scarcely  less  pitiable. 
To  her  inquiries  concerning  Sir  Bevis,  Ennyn  answered,  that 
he  was  returned  to  England  and  married  to  a  lady  of  high 
distinction;  and  to  the  grief  occasioned  by  this  calumny, 
which  though  ebs  did  not  quite  believe  she  could  sot  du> 
prove,  were  added  the  persecutions  of  a  new  lover.  Inor, 
king  of  MnimKwiniit^  mi  empire  quite  unknown  to  modem 
geograpbem,  applied  for,  and  obtained  from  her  fother,  the 
promise  ofherhand;  and,  however  nnwilling  to  justify,  by  her 
own  conduct,  the  supposed  infidelity  of  Sir  Bevis,  she  was 
compelled  to  marry  a  man  whose  person  she  hated,  and  whose 
religion  she  had  secretly  abjured.  She  had,  however,  in 
reserve,  a  notable  eontrivance  for  preaerving  ber  chastity 
inviolate. 

"  I  shall  go  make  me  a  writ, 

Thoroi^h  a  cleric  wise  of  wit, 

Thnt  there  shall  no  man  have  grace, 

Wlile  that  letter  is  in  place. 

Against  my  will  to  he  me  by, 

Nor  do  me  shame  nor  villany ." 

She  did  that  letter  soon  be  wrought. 

On  the  manner  as  she  bad  thought; 

About  her  neck  she  banged  it; 

She  would  not  beguile  Bevia  yet. 
Hiub  armed,  she  submitted  to  the  marriage  contract  in 
>  Anj  «ort  of  imtiined  tnjnuli.    Tbttt  Hues  tre  quoUd  in  King  Lor. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


ns  BEVia  op  RUIPTOTFX.  Sfi? 

jvesenoe  of  the  king  of  B«bylon  and  of  the  ModAn  of  Fenia, 
and  dcfiarted  with  her  husbcuid  towaids  his  dominKHts.  Inor 
bad  received  from  Bnnyn.  amongst  other  preaoits,  the  good 
sword  Moiglay  and  the  good  steed  Amndel,  iriiom  he  deter- 
mined to  mount  on  the  day  of  Ha  bimnphal  entiy:  bat 
scaicely  waa  he  seated  in  the  saddle,  when  Arundel,  per- 
oeiving  aome  little  eymptams  of  awkwardness  in  his  new  nder, 
scampered  off  with  hiin;  and,  followed  by  the  i^le  court, 
who  were  nnwilling  to  abandon  their  sovereign,  po^fiirmcd  so 
many  evtdntiona  amtrngat  tbe  bnahes  and  briers,  and  so  com- 
pletely discvdeied  the  seat  of  the  too  presuming  bridegroom, 
that  a.  sudden  plunge  threw  him  upon  his  back  with  a  degree 
of  Ti^ence  by  which  the  ^line  was  nearly  dislocated.  Inor 
was  long  confined  to  his  bed;  and  Anmdel,  strongly  sus- 
pected by  the  grooms  of  some  treasonable  desi^  on  his 
majesty's  life,  would  have  been  starred  in  the  staue,  bnt  tar 
itte  charitable  donatLons  of  corn  which  were  administered  to 
him  by  the  attention  of  Josyan. 

During  the  seven  years  of  his  imprisonment,  Beris  bad 
made  so  great  a  proficiency  in  Qie  Christian  virtues,  as  to 
deserve  to  receive  a  visit  from  an  angel,  who  condescended 
to  core  him  of  a  wound  inflicted  by  an  adder  in  crawling  over 
him.  Encouraged  by  this  miraculons  event,  he  b^an  to  pray 
to  Heaven  with  increased  fervour  for  his  delivenmce  out  of 
the  dungeon ;  when  the  tremulous  tones  of  his  voice  atbacted 
the  attention  of  his  two  gaolers,  who,  encouraged  by  his 
apparent  weakness,  determmed  to  murder  him.  The  first 
who  descended  made  a  blow  at  hitti  with  his  sword,  which 
felled  him  to  the  grotmd ;  but  Bevis,  soon  rising,  returned  the 
compliment  with  his  fist  and  killed  the  assailant ;  then  assu- 
ming a  feigned  voice,  he  easily  decoyed  down  the  other 
assassin,  iriiom  he  instantly  dispatched  with  the  sword  of  hia 
Gompanitm.  Bnt  the  victory  had  nearly  proved  fetal  to  the 
victor.  With  his  gaolers  died  all'hopea  of  his  daily  allowanoe 
of  food;  bnt,  after  three  days  of  dreadful  abstinence,  his  stead- 
&Bt  pie^  was  rewarded  by  a  new  miracle.  The  masaiye 
chain,  by  which  his  middle  was  fitstened  to  the  rock  of  his 
dungeon,  suddenly  gave  way;  he  fell  on  his  knees  to  thank 
Heaven  for  his  deliverance;  and,  sei&ng  the  rope  by  which 
the  gaolers  had  descended,  easily  gained  the  surfece  of  the  pit 
in  much  he  had  been  so  long  entombed 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


2M  XL&LT  Bxeuaa  mexkicai.  kqiukcu. 

Tkia  Mcqte  took  {due  xather  before  the  dmrn  «(  d^; 
aad  be  aoos  heaid  sonnds  of  marnment  procMdinf  Am 
Ae  ni^  Btabln,  where  the  groonu  were  dmming  the  king'K 
wir-h»ncs.  Tbrooj^ftholein  the  wallhe  then^scoveseaa 
pits  of  aimoor,  and,  bnistiiig  opea  the  door  with  «  kiidi  (^  his 
Ibet,  foaadUttle  diffionltyinKOluw  «  downitf  KTOtdtes,  whan 
hia  aadftTeioiiB  aroesnnee,  and  niB  Imw  hair  whidk  traded 
imon  the  groono,  had  nsdered  etiqnd  with  astosiiahBient. 
Bb  (ban  aimed  himaelf  at  his  leiaure;  saddled  and  monnted 
the  heat  htnae  is  the  stahle,  ^Uc^ied  to  the  palace  galea,  and, 
lofld^  taxing  the  porter  w^  negligeoce  for  aoffortiw  Sir 
Befia  to  eac^te  from  primn,  oomnuwded  the  draw-bri^e  to 
baiBstamtly  bwered;  was  obeyed  without  hesitation,  set  epota 
to  Ua  honte,  and  galloped  off  into  the  neig^bQuriag  fimat. 
Hare,  however,  he  socm  lost  lua  way,  and,  after  ridii^  till  the 
apptoach  of  night,  wa«  so  orercome  I:^  sle^,  that  he  waa 
oUjged  to  dismount  and  he  down  to  rest  at  a  short  distance 
frmn  the  city  which  be  had  quitted  in.  the  morning. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  gatJers  being  missed,  utd  the 
dungeon  searched,  thie  news  of  Sir  Bens's  eflc^>e  was  ecnt- 
n^red  to  the  hin^.  who  collecting  all  his  knights,  immedietdy 
set  off  is  pnisnit  of  the  fugitive.  The  most  formidable  of 
thaae  biighte  was  Sir  Gmundere,  the  proprietor  of  a  valuahle 
hotae  naoied  I^enpIicQw,  and  soch  was  the  q>eed  of  this 
oonaer.  that  he  overbxik  Sir  Beris,  who  bad  at  length  dis- 
oovcred  the  right  road;  whilst  the  kii^  and  his  other  vassals, 
tbongfa  well  mounted,  had  scarcelv  advanced  a  few  miles  is 
their  pursnit.  Bevis,  thus  compelled  to  defend  hiitaetf,  turned 
xipan  lua  adveissry,  pierced  him  through  the  heart  with  the 
fiiat  thrust  tf  his  spe&r,  took  posseesiDii  of  Trencher's,  and 
eontinned  his  flight;  but,  having  again  mistaken  his  wny,  he 
at  lei^ith  came  in  sight  of  the  sea,  constantly  followed  by  £iDg 
Bmdmond  and  his  army  of  knighta.  In  tms  desperate  situa- 
tion our  hero,  recommending  >itmiuir  to  Qod,  Bpnrred  bis 
steed  into  the  water,  and  the  inde&tigable  Trenchefys  swam 
with  him  to  the  oppoate  shore. 

So  much,  hovrever,  was  be  enfeebled  by  want  of  food,  that 
when  his  horse,  on  reaching  the  diy  groond,  began  to  shake 
himad^  he  fell  out  of  the  saddle;  but  speedily  remounted,  and 
i-imtimn'ng  }iig  journey,  soon  arrived  at  a  &ir  castle,  on  the 
wells  of  whidi  stood  a  lad;,  wbam  be  eagerly  beaoiif^  for 


uL,  Cookie 


UK  SBTI9  OF   HAliPTODK .  369 

the  km  of  God,  to  give  him  a  maoft  mgai.  The  lady 
■iiBiniiwl,  thftt  her  lord  «u  a  giant  and  Ka  infidel,  and  th^«- 
fii«e  an^urad  the  Christian  atrwiBer  to  teek  a  mcve  honntable 
mansion.  But  Bevis  was  infiexiole;-  be  declared  that  naving 
no  virii  to  die  rf  hunger,  he  was  resolved  to  dine  in  that 
owntle,  either  ai  a  gueat  or  by  foroe.  Thia  being  uuoancad 
tote  giant,  he  seued  an  iron  door-bai  in  hie  band,  and  thus 
iMnmaA  Sir  Bevis: 

"  What  art  thou.  Sir  Nyu?' 

'Where  Bttlest  dion  TrmafaeiyM 

lliat  Hiaa  attest  upon  ha«.* 

He  ma  my  broker's;  Kr  Ontusdna." 

"  God  wot,"  then  eaid  Deris, 

"  I  riiofe*  Sir  Gianndere  a  cnnn,  y-wis, 

When  we  bat  met  in  bataile; 

1  made  hira  deacon,  withont  &il ; 

And,  if  fhon  wilt  ordcrai  take, 

A  priest,"  said  Beris,  "  I  aball  thee  moke." 
TiuM  ele^nt  conversation  ended  by  a  terrible  comlnt.  Tho 
Slant  aimecl  a  blow  at  bis  adversary,  which  missed  the  rider, 
b^killed  tiie  nnfortunat«  Treuchefys ;  be  also  threw  a  javelin 
with  Boob  force  and  skill  that  it  tronafixed  the  ehoulder  of 
Sir  Bevia,  who,  bxiwever,  revenged  himself  by  cutting  off  the 
giant's  head ;  and  rushed  into  the  castle,  still  calling  on  the 
udy  tar  somelbiag  to  eat.  She  instantly  set  before  bim  a 
plentifiil  dinner,  which  be  dispatched  with  much  rapidity, 
after  ordering  her,  in  the  first  instance,  to  taste  of  ereiy  dint 
and  of  evoy  kind  of  wine  wbicb  was  successively  set  before 
him.  She  then  widi  a  kerehief  bound  up  his  wound,  and 
stopped  the  efFuaion  of  blood)  after'wbi(ui  he  felt  such  an 
inqiatienoe  to  be  gone,  that  he  instantly  ordered  out  the 
giant's  beat  borse,  and 

Into  the  saddle  so  be  Ivpt 

That  on  no  stirrup  he  ne  slept. 

He  now  ardently  wished,  whilst  he  rode  over  a  beautaiiil 

green  plain,  that  be  could  meet  Kbig  Bradmond's  army,  and 

cut  it  m  pieces  to  accelerate  his  digf-stion ;  bat,  as  no  army 

happened  to  meet  bim,  he  continued  his  journey  to  Jerusalem, 

\  where  he  confessed  bis  sins  to  the  patriai«h,  md  received  bis 

'fooluh.  A.N.  'ShsTed. 

B  2 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


960  KAKI.T  KKGUIB  XBTXIC1.I.  XOMXHCn. 

sbMlntion,  acotnuMiiied  b;  a  strict  injimction  that  he  ihould 
DCTer  onite  himilf  in  mateimony  widi  but  bnt  a  deoH  maid; 
an  injimctitni,  to  iridcli  the  penitent  readuy  pnnnued  a  oon- 
Stmt  obedienoe. 

On  qnittiiig  Jernnlem,  his  withes  nsttuvlly  led  him  to  take 
the  road  to  Ennmj';  bnt  he  had  not  adTsnoed  &r,  when  he 
met  a  gentle  kni^it,  who  had  been  in  his  service  at  the  court 
eg  King  Eimyn,  and  who  related  to  him  all  the  circametancea 
<rf  Joeyan's  manuRe  to  Inor,  lung  of  Mounbrannt.     To  this 


eonntr^,  therefore,  he  pointed  his  steps,  alter  leceivii^  from 
the  knight  an  exact  description  of  the. road:  and,  having 
lesdied  the  principal  city,  determined  to  enter  it  ia  diaguiae; 
for  which  purpose  he  exchai^ed  dresses  with  a  poor  palmer. 
^le  king,  m  was  told,  was  then  hunting,  but  the  queen  was 
in  her  tower;  to  this  tower  therefore  he  proceeded.  At  the 
gate  stood  a  ciowd  of  pilgrims,  waiting  for  their  share  of  the 
nod  which  the  cJtsritable  Josjran  was  in.  the  habit  of  daily 
distributing  to  poor  Christians;  bnt  as  the  hour  of  dinner  was 
not  arrived.  Sir  Bevia  proceeded  to  examine  the  exterior  of 
the  palace,  and  had  the  satis&ction,  in  passing  tmder  the 
windows  of  her  turret,  to  hear  the  voice  of  his  misbess,  who 
was  prayii^  to  Heaven  with  great  fervency;  and  he  was 
Bofliciently  near  to  distingnish  that  he  was-  not  forgotten  in 
her  devotions.  He  then  returned  to  the  gate;  was  welcomed 
by  her  as  on  indigent  stranger;  was  placed  by  her  tU  lh» 
head  of  the  board,  plentifully  fed,  and  was  then  requested  to 
relate  whether,  in  tiie  course  of  his  travels,  he  had  ever  seen 
or  heard  of  Sir  Bcvis.  He  professed  to  be  the  taost  intimate 
friend  of  that  knight,  by  whom  he  had  been  sent  into  various 
countries  in  search  of  a  steed  called  Arundel.     lie  queen,  on 

(this  assurance,  led  the  di^uiscd  stranger  to  Anrndel's  stable; 
and  that  feithfiit  horse  no  sooner  heard  the  voice  of  his 
•  master,  than  he  burst  asunder  teven  cAatru  by  which  he  was 
fastened  to  the  stall,  and  ran  out  of  the  staUe  door.  She  now 
cxptessed  her  fears  lest  the  mischievous  Biiimal  should  escape, 
and  throw  the  whole  town  into  consternation;  but  Bcvis 
laughing  at  her  feais,  approached  the  steed,  who  seemed  to 
expect  with  anxiety  the  commands  of  his  well-known  rider. 

Bevis  himsdf  in  the  saddle  threw. 
And  thereby  Josyan  anon  him  knew. 


J  L,  Google 


SIB  BXTIS   OF   HAHPTOTTX.  261 

She  said,  "  Berifl,  my  lemnuin  dear, 

Ride  not  fro  me  in  no  manere! 

Hiou  promieed  me  for  wife  to  talte, 

When  I  mr  biee  gods  did  forsake : 

Help  me,  Beris,  now  at  this  need; 

For  thou  hast  Arundel  thine  own  steed; 

I  RhoU  thee  fetch  thy  sword  Moi^lay; 

And  lefld  me,  Beris,  with  thee  away !" 

Sir  Bevia  anjJWcreHl,  "  By  Sunt  Jame, 

If  I  thee  love  I  were  to  blame ! 

For  thee  I  lay  in  prison  strong 

Seven  year,  and  that  was  long! 

Also  the  patriarch,  on  my  life. 

Charged  me  never  to  take  wife 

Bnt  ^  she  were  a  maiden  clean ; 

And  seven  year  hast  thou  been  qneoi. 

And  every  night  a  knight  by  thee : 

How  ehonldest  thou  then  a  maiden  be?" 
"Mercy,  Sir  fievis,"  then  said  she, 
"Hnve  me  home  to  thy  countx^ : 

But  ye  find  me  a  true  woman, 

In  oU  that  e^-er  ye  say  can, 

Send  me  hither  to  my  fi>e, 

Uyself  naked,  and  no  mo!" 
"I  grant,"  said  Bevis,  "that  thon  with  me  go. 

On  that  covenant  that  it  be  so. 

Hie'  the  &st,  and  make  thee  prest,* 

If  that  thon  with  me  go  lest."* 
It  will  be  remembered  that  Josjran  had  a  confidential  cham- 
berlain named  Boni&ce.  This  prudent  personage  was  fbrtu- 
nately  present  during  this  conversation,  and,  whilst  bia 
mistress  was  gtme  in  search  of  the  sword,  stated  to  Sir  Bevis 
the  danger  of  midh  a  hurried  departure,  and  suggested  to  him 
a  much  more  ntional  project.  "The  king,"  aud  he,  "is  now 
hunting  in  the  forest,  but  he  will  return  immediately.  Should 
you  carry  off  the  queen  thus  publicly,  yon  will  meet  with 
obstacles  on  every  side,  and  be  closely  pursued.  But  take 
my  advice :— Your  disguise  conceals  yon  efitetuolly ;  the  king 
Will  notioe  you  as  a  tiavellei,  and  natunilly  BpLyou  for  ueWB. 

•  HuUa.  ■  lUadjr.  •  liit,  diOM. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


262  EABLT  SMGUSH   XETBICAi   R01IA.KCEB. 

Tell  Um  that  yon  are  just  come  from  Sjiix;  that  Bradwiu, 
who  IB  his  brother,  has  been  totally  defe^ed  by  King  Sytak ; 
that  the  avenues  to  the  country  are  poesessed  by  tbe  enemy, 
and  all  means  of  sending  intelligence  of  hia  aituation  efibc- 
tually  cut  off-  The  king  will  instantly  hasten,  with  all  his 
forces,  to  the  relief  of  his  broths ;  and  during  his  absence  wc 
may  take  our  measures  at  our  leisore,  and  escape  with  perfect 
security."  Bevis  was  convinced  by  tiis  reasoning;  l«i  back 
Arundel  to  the  staUe ;  and,  having  told  his  story  to  the  king, 
had  the  satisfiiction  to  see  him  depart  on  the  next  day  for 

The  city  of  Mounbraunt  was,  in  the  mean  time,  committed 
to  the  care  of  the  king's  steward,  named  Sir  Otaaay,  an  active 
and  vigilant  officer:  but  Boniface  contrived  to  give  him  a 
sleeping-potion;  during  the  operation  of  which  Sir  Bevis, 
arrayed  in  the  beet  armour  iriueh  the  king's  treasury  could 
furnish,  accompanied  by  Jo«yan  on  the  pe«^ew  Arundel,  and 
attended  by  the  trusty  Boni&ce,  departed  withont  meeting 
any  opposition  from  the  inhnbitants  of  Hounbrannt.  The 
governor  indeed  awaked  at  ls£t,  issued  hia  ivders  for  stopping 
ue  fugitives  on  the  frontier,  and  followed  them  into  a  forest, 
ivhere  Sir  Bevis,  having  reconiioiti«d  the  army  of  his  pur- 
BucTs,  felt  a  great  desire  to  amuae  his  mietxess  by  killing  a  few 
thousands  of  them  with  his  good  sword  Moiglay;  but  Josyan 
insisted  on  taking  refuge  in  a  cave  which  was  pointed  out  to 
her  by  the  sagacious  Boni&ce,  and  wlu3«  tbey  eSeetually  dis- 
appointed all  the  meaaurea  taken  by  the  goTemar  ftn-  their 
diacovery. 

But  Jogyao,  aStei  a  strict  abstinence  of  twenty-four  hours, 
b^an  to  feel  herBelT  very  hungry ;  and  Sir  Bevis,  leaving  her 
is  the  cave  with  Boniface,  undertook  to  lull  some  venison,  fbr 
her  support.  During  his  absence,  two  huge  lions  came  into 
the  cave ;  and  Boniiace,  who,  in  addition  to  his  other  merits, 
had  great  dispositions  to  heroism,  valltuitly  attacked  Aem; 
but  in  spite  of  his  efforts  the  lions  proceeded  to  devour  him 
and  his  horse :  and 

When  they  had  eaten  of  that  man. 

They  went  both  unto  Josyan, 

And  laid  their  heads  upon  her  barme:' 

But  they  would  do  her  no  harme ; 


J  L,  Google 


For  it  IS  the  li<»'s  kind,*  j-wis, 
A  king's  dangfater  that  tntid  in 
Hurt  aor  hsime  none  to  do : 
Thcrcfora  hy  tbe«e  lioia  so. 
Beria  on  his  return  fbond  Joeyan  perfectly  bmiliBriaed 
witti  the  KoDi,  whom  however  she  conld  not  fotgiTe  for  eatJDg 
her  dumberlaiii :  she  therefore  proposed  to  hold  one  of  them 
by  the  neck  whilst  her  lover  attacked  the  cpther:   biit  he 
insisted  on  fighting  the  two  together ;  snd  such  was  the  oom- 
fert  whidi  he  derived  from  the  presence  of  his  mistress,  and 
from  the  conTiction  of  her  perfect  chasti^,  that  he  cut  off 
both  their  heads  at  one  stroke.     The  lovers  now  dined,  and, 
sfter  dn}y  bewailiiig  the  loss  of  the  fiuthfiil  Boni&ce,  mounted 
on  Anmdel  and  pursued  their  journey. 

They  had  not  proceeded  tax  when  fhey  met  a  most  partsn- 
tola  tmd  fonnidable  giant,  widi  whom  the  reader  will  socm 
become  better  acqaainted,  and  whom  we  will  therefore  permit 
Hbe  author  to  describe : 

This  geaunt  woe  migh^  and  strong, 
And  nil  thirty  foot  was  long. 
He  was  bristled  like  a  sow ; 
A  foot  he  had  between  each  farow; 
His  lips  were  great,  and  hung  aside ; 
His  eyen  were  hollow;  his  monUi  was  wide : 
Lothy  he  was  to  look  on  than. 
And  liker  a  devil  than  a  man. 
His  fltaff  was  a  yom^  oak. 
Hard  and  heavy  was  his  stroke. 
Beris  wondred  on  him  ngfat. 
And  him  inquired  what  he  big^t? 
And  if  all  the  men  in  his  cnntiee 
Were  as  nuKhty  and  ^reat  as  he? 
"My  name,"  he  said,  "is  AsooAEd; 
Sir  Qiaasy  sent  me  hitherwaM 
For  to  brmg  you  home  again." 
But  this  could  not  be  accomplished  widiout  a  battle ;  and 
soch  was  &B  actinty  t^  Sir  Bevia,  that  Ami^Mrd  was  never 
onoe  able  to  touch  Mm,  iriiile  he  himself  was  covered  with 
woimda  from  head  to  fbod,  and  at  length  &11  down,  after 
Nitore. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


2M  EAJILY  ZirOUIH  MEXaiClX  SOIUKCZB. 

aiming  a  tenible  bat  ineffectral  blow  «t  his  aircnarj,  quite 
exhMuted  with  fiddgne  and  loss  of  blood.  Hia  life  wM  Bpac«d, 
tX  the  patticular  intercemioa  of  Jo8)'aii,  and  the  nnwiedly 
mmuter  became,  Irom  tfaia  time,  the  page  of  Sir  Beria. 

After  this  accession  to  their  household,  the  loven  proceeded 
tiU  they  reftched  the  sea,  where  they  found  a  dromonnd  (mer- 
Ghsot-ship)  ready  to  huI  for  Germany,  but  alrea^  occupied 
by  >ome  Saracens,  1^0  refused  to  admit  Sir  Beru  and  his 
oomponioDs  into  their  vessel.  Ascantrd  immediately  diore 
them  all  out;  took  up  Amndel  with  Beris  and  Joeyan  mider 
his  arm;  embarked  with  them;  and,  drawing  up  the  soil, 
arrived,  after  a  prosperous  voyage,  at  Cologne. 

The  bishop  of  Cologne  h^ipened  to  be  the  brother  of  Sir 
Ony  and  Sir  Saber,  and  consequently  the  nude  of  Sir  Beris, 
whom  therefbre  the  good  prelate  received  with  every  mark  ot 
aSbctioQ.  Having  inquired  the  names  of  the  beautiiid  lady 
and  ugly  giant,  his  travelling  companions,  he  Icamt  from  his 
nephew  their  former  adventures,  and  Josyan's  earnest  desire 
to  be  solemnly  christened ;  to  which  Sir  Bevis  added,  that  he 
should  be  glad  if  his  unwieldy  page  could  be  cleansed  from 
bis  pagan  propensities  on  the  same  oocasion.     Accordin^y, 

Hie  bishop  christened  Josyan, 

That  was  white  as  any  swan. 

For  Ascapard  was  made  a  tmt; 

And  when  he  should  therein  ]je  done. 

He  lept  out  upon  the  brench,' 

And  said,  "Churl!  wilt  thou  roe  drench?* 

The  devil  of  heU  mot  fetche  thee ! 

I  am  too  muoh*  christened  to  be ! " 
Tba  author  adds,  that  tins  indecent  ipectacle,  though  it 
sorely  grieved  the  bishop,  afibrded  infinite  amusement  to  the 
good  people  of  Col<%ne. 

It  was  near  this  city  that  Sir  Bevis  had  the  honour  to 
nohiere  the  most  perilous  adventure  of  his  whole  life:  it  is 
true  that 

■  ■■  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake 
Fought  with  the  brenning  drake;* 

I  BrlDk. 
*  BnnibiK  dngoa-    Sse  sn 
Mofta  Arthur,  lib.  xi.  cap.  L 


giLzcdt*  Google 


SIX  BKTIS  or  SAUPTODir.  86S 

Gay  of  Warwick,  I  understand. 

Slew  a  dragon  in  Northumberlaitd; 

But  sncli  a  dragon  was  never  seen 

As  Sii  Beria  slew,  I  wene. 
It  BeeniA  that  there  had  been  two  of  tbeoe  roonEterB  in  Ca- 
labria, who  completely  ravaged  tiiat  country ,  but  were  at  length 
expeUed  by  the  piHyers  of  a  holy  man.  They  then  flew  to 
TiMcany,  and  thence  to  Lombordy  where  they  separated. 
Hie  one  fiew  to  tte  ODort  of  Home;  but  in  that  land  of  devo- 
tion became  immoveable. 


The  other  came  to  (he  territory  of  Cologne ;  and  Sir  Bevis, 
moved  nith  compasaion  by  the  groeisa  of  a  knight  who  had 
been  touched  by  the  poison  of  thia  monster,  determined  to 
attack  him,  though  aasured  bv  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country  that  no  one  but  St.  Michael  was  able  to  maintain  a 
contest  with  such  a  serpent. 

Ascapard,  in  the  first  instance,  readily  undertook  to  attend 
his  master  on  *iiAB  occasion;  but  tlie  mere  dissonance  of  the 
dragon's  voice,  which  he  heard  at  a  great  distance,  had  sudi 
an  effect  on  his  cars,  that  he  declared liia  resolution  to  return, 
avowii^  that  he  would  not  undertake,  "for  all  the  realms  of 
heathenness,"  to  look  into  the  throat  from  which  such  a  voice 
had  issued.  Sir  Bevis  therefore  was  left  alone :  yet  he  pro- 
ceeded, in  spite  of  the  monster's  hideous  yell,  to  attack  him 
with  his  good  sword  Moiglay ;  and,  though  the  first  lash  of 
tiie  dragon's  tail  broke  one  cf  his  ribs  ana  felled  him  to  tlie 
ground,  whilst  his  sword  made  no  impression  on  the  impene- 
tiable  scales  of  his  enemv,  coutinned  the  battle  with  great 
obstinacy,  until,  in  retzeatmg  to  avoid  the  poisonous  breath  of 
the  dragon,  he  fell  backirards  into  a  wdl  full  of  water. 
Luckily  fbc  him,  a  famale  saint  had  bathed  in  this  water ;  and 
had  tl^reby  inqiarted  to  it  such  marvellous...  efficacy, '  that, 
whilst  it  healed  the  wound  and  restored  thealinost  c^iausted 
strength  of  tlie  Christian  hero,  it  efibctually  impeded  the 
attack  of  the  dragon-  Sir  Bevis  now  renewed  the  combat  . 
but  the  serpent  spouting  on  him  about  a  gallon  of  venom,  he* 
instantly  fell  senseless  on  the  grouudjr  wnere  his  ennny  oon- 
tinned  to  whip  him  wiHi  his  tail,  till  he  whipped  him  aseMml 


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266  EARLY   £KOLT8a  VXTBICAI.  B0IUITCE8. 

time  into  the  miracidaiifl  wel].  Here  he  again  recovered  hia 
senses,  and  begsa  to  say  his  prayers  with  much  devotion; 
oAcr  whicli  he  adinstad  at  his  leisure  tlie  Mve»l  pieces  of  his 
armour  which  had  been  discomposed  by  the  rongh  beatment 
which  they  had  met  with  whilst  he  lay  on  the  graiind;  and 
finally  issued  again  from  the  wdl,  and  wielded  the  good  sword 
Morglay  with  a  degree  of  Tigour  which  his  weaned  ataaj 
was  no  longer  willing  to  encounter.  The  dragon  now  b^an 
to  retreat  in  his  turn ;  but  Bevis,  following  him,  had  the  good 
fortune  to  cut  off  about  five  feet  <^  that  wicked  tail  from 
which  he  had  snffbred  such  dreadftd  bruises;  aAer  which,  he 
had  little  difficulty  in  severing  the  monster's  head  £ram  the 
body.  Having  then  returned  thanks  to  heaven  for  this  signal 
Tiotory,  he  returned  in  triumph  to  Colt^e  with  the  dia^im's 
head,  aiid  was  received  by  the  people  and  by  the  good  tn^M^ 
OS  thJe  deUvercr  of  tfae  eoimtry. 

Having  acquired  such  clanns  to  tlte  bishop's  gratitude.  Sir 
Beris  i^lied  to  him  for  advioe  and  assiBtaiioe  in  promoting 
his  long  meditated  project  to  revenge  the  death  <^  his  fttlii^. 
Hie  prdate  readily  prranised  him  a  hundred  knights,  all  men 
of  approved  valour,  who,  he  said,  wcynld  n^oioe  to  sesrve  noder 
the  banners  of  nuik  a  diatinguuhed  leader;  and  this  litde 
troop  requiring  no  tim«  tar  proparatitn,  the  knight  tocA  leave 
of  hiB  d^  Jo^an,  whom  he  intrusted  during  his  abaenee  to 
tiie  care  of  Aaoapard,  and,  embaridng  for  England,  Brrived, 
shortly  after,  at  a  port  within  a  few  miles  (^  Bouthampton. 
He  landed,  and  nuvohed  towards  that  town  preceded  by  a 
memeni^.  whom  he  sent  to  Sir  Uurdour,  with  orders  to  say 
Aat  "  a  knight  of  Britany,  with  a  hundred  companions  itom 
difibrent  pans  of  France,  was  just  arrived  in  quest  of  serrice, 
nAitii  they  olfered  to  hkn  in  the  first  instance,  but  riiould,  if 
rafiued,  transfer  to  hie  competitor."  8ir  Uurdour  was  tms- 
joyed  at  this  offer,  which  he  readily  accepted;  and,  advancing 
to  meet  &e  stnu^ers,  ushered  Sir  Bevis  witli  great  ceremony 
into  tl>e  hall,  and  paid  him  daring  supper  the  moat  niarked 


Idth^liy  : 


in   which    he  was    iiithndiy  imitated    by  tite 

The  assmncd  name  of  Bevis  was  Sir  Jarrard;  and  under 
QiaB  vtBtB  he  had  Ae  amusement  a!  hearing  a  most  curious 
aeooturt  of  his  own  adventures.  Sir  Sfoidour  told  him  that 
Sir  Qay,  the  first  husband  of  the  counteas,  was  a  man  of 


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SIS  BEVIS   07  HAXPTOnir.  287 

igBable  Uood ;  l^t,  pnfu^  tor  tiiia  reaeon,  his  bod  Bevis 
beeftme  a  mere  rnlgar  spendtiuift,  sold  to  him  his  heritage 
and  then  for  shame  quitted  the  coratry;  that  Sir  Saber,  with- 
out any  legal  claim,  attempted  to  wrest  from  him  his  pur- 
duise ;  and  that  this  was  the  quairct  in  which  he  reqiured 
tbe  serriees  ot  his  noble  ^esta.  Bevis,  during  this  relation, 
was  nmch  tmipted  to  jpunufa  on  the  spot  the  shameless 
eifhmtCTy  of  his  step-fiither;  but  he  concealed  hie  emotions, 
and  detemuned  to  meet  franii  with  fraud.  Addressing  him- 
self to  Sir  Murdour,  he  said,  "  Such  being  your  quarrel, 
myself  aad  my  company,  had  we  been  able  to  come  properlv 
equipped,  might  have  ^^y  settled  it.  Indeed,  if  you  wiU 
lend  OS  arms  and  hones,  and  profidc  us  a  ship  for  our  oou- 
Toyance,  we  will  depart  tiiis  very  night,  and  will  promise  not 
to  lose  ri^t  of  Saber  till  your  disagreement  shiul  be  finally 
adjusted."  This  offer  was  thanldbUy  accepted;  Bevis  carried 
off  to  the  Isle  of  Wight  the  choicest  armour  and  the  finest 
horses  that  his  enemy  coidd  hmish ;  and,  luTinc  joined  Saber, 
instandy  ordered  a  mesaeng^  to  return  to  SouOiampton,— ' 
"  And  tell  to  Sir  Murdour,  right, 

Tbat  I  am  no  Frenche  Imight, 

Nor  he  hight  not  Sir  Jaiiard, 

llial  made  with  him  that  ibreward;' 

But  say  it  was  Bevis  of  renown, 

"Die  right  heir  of  South-Hamptonn; 

And  say,  his  conntesa  ia  my  dame; 

The  Devil  ff.ve  them  botii  shame! 

And  say  I  will  avenged  be. 

Of  tliat  thcT' did  to  my  father  and  me  r ' 
7Thi8  being  &ithfiilly  nported  to  Sir  Murdour,  who  was 
then  at  table,  he  suMdiea  up  a  knife  and  threw  it  at  the 
amboeeador  of  Sir  Bevn,  but  had  the  misfbrtune  to  aim  the 
blow  80  ill  that  it  missed  the  intended  objeot  anA  pierced  tbe 
besrt  of  his  own  son;  a  cvoumstaBce  ^^ch,  being  imme- 
diately related  to  Sir  Bevis,  wsa  c(msidN«d  by  him  as  a  proof 
of  divine  interpoaitioB,  and  as  a  nuat  fortanate  omen  ot  his 
fritnre  success. 

We  most  now  return  with  oar  andior  to  the  beautifld 

Josyan,  whom  we  left  at  Calogne.     Tltwe  liyed  in  the  nrigh- 

<  Promiie,  contract. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


268  EARLT  EHOLISH  MXTSICAL 

boniitoad  of  tfaikt  titj  a  poweiM  eail  namDd  SirHfle,  wbo 
saw,  became  duunoured  of  ber,  and  resolved  ^  enjoy  her. 
Jotjiut,  to  whom  he  communicated  without  ceremony  both 
hit  wifihcfl  and  his  determination  to  gntity  them,  only  lan^ied 
at  him.  and  frankly  told  him  that  if  he  attempted  violence  he 
would  meet  with  a  vciy  serious  resistance  from  her,  and  not 
lean  from  Ascttpord.  But  the  craf^  German  ma  aware  that 
nothing  was  bo  easy  as  to  over-reach  the  giant.  He  forged  a 
letter  to  him  from  Sir  Bcris,  ordering  his  immediate  attend- 
ance in  an  island  which  he  described,  and  to  which  the 
obedient  page  readily  followed  the  bearer  of  the  letter:  aA«r 
this,  the  gates  of  the  castle  into  which  he  was  decoyed  being 
locked,  a  circumstance  to  which  he  paid  little  attention,  he 
patiently  expected  the  arrival  of  his  master.  Sir  Mile,  no 
longer  apprehensive  trwa  this  quarter,  sent  an  account  of  his 
success  to  Josyan,  who  now,  justly  alarmed,  dispatched  a 
messenger  to  Bevis,  implorit^  his  immediate  assistance,  and 
then,  after  devisii^  a  variety  of  stratagems  to  escape  her 
hated  lover,  at  ler^gth  fixed  on  the  most  extraordinary  that 
peihops  ever  entered  into  the  head  of  woman.  She  calmly 
told  Sir  Mile,  at  his  next  visit,  that  she  had  sworn  never  to 
surrender  her  person  to  a  lover,  and  that  his  power,  great  as 
it  mi^t  be,  should  never  compel  her  to  break  her  oath;  but 
that  a  husband  had  rights  which  she  could  not  with  reason 
oppose,  and  that  be  might,  if  he  pleased,  become  that  hus- 
band. Sir  Mile,  overjoyed  and  astenished  at  this  declaiatioa, 
thanked  h^  vith  transport,  and  Ave  orden  fiff  the  immediate 
solemniiatiiHi  of  the  wedding.     Ihey  were  married. 

Hieie  laeJced  Bathing,  vcrfly. 
Of  rich  meats,  and  minstrusy. 
When  it  drew  towarde  ni^it, 
A  riche  sonper  Utere  was  di^t. 
And  after  that,  verament. 
The  koi^t  and  she  to  chamber  yroA. 
Within  her  bed  when  that  she  waa, 
The  Earl  came  and  did  r^oice. 
With  boimis,  and  gr^t  company. 
And  possMs  made  with  qnoeiy. 
When  that  they  hod  drunken  wine, 
"  Sir,''  said  Jocyan,  *'  and  lore  mine. 


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BIB  BBTI8  or  ■BAMTTOVK.  2f>9 

Let  no  perxniMar  nB  be 
Hiis  night,  to  hear  onr  privity. 
Neither  kni^t,  maiilCT,  nor  swain ; 
Myself  ihtdl  be  jnnr  chamberlain !" 
He  said,  "  Leman,  it  shall  be  so;" 
Han  and  maid  he  bade  out  go : 
He  ghnt  the  door  well  and  &at. 
And  Bat  him  down  at  the  last. 

Josyan  was  waiting  for  this  moment.  She  had  mode  a 
(£p-knot  in  her  girdle,  and  suddenly  passing  it  round  his 
neck,  and  pnlline  at  it  with  her  whole  strength,  most  efiec- 
tua%  Btnm^ed  him,  and,  hanging  him  up  over  the  beam  of 
the  roof^  quietly  resigned  herselTto  sleeps  Her  rest  indeed 
was  80  profound,  that  it  was  protnctcd  "much  beyond  her 
usual  hour  of  rising. 

The  barons  gan  for  to  arise. 

Some  fiir  hunting,  some  for  kirk. 

And  workmen  roae  to  do  their  work. 

The  son  shone;  it  drew  to  under;' 

The  barons  thereof  hadde  wonder. 

Why  the  Earl  lay  so  long  in  bed. 

Tho*  they  all  wondred  had. 

Some  saiden,  "Let  him  lygge  still: 

Of  Josyan  let  him  ban  his  wiU." 

Mid-day  came;  it  drew  to  noon: 

The  boldest  raid,  "  How  may  this  gon  ? 

Wete  I  wol  myself,  and  see 

How  it  may  therof  i-bee," 

He  smote  ^e  door  with  his  hoiia, 

Hiat  all  wide  open  soon  it  wond. 
"  Awake,  awake,"  he  said,  "  Sir  Mile, 

Hon  hast  islepen  a  long  while ! 

Hiine  head  aketh,  I  wot  right  wel : 

Dame,  moke  him  a  cawdel! ' 

Josyan  said,  "At  that  sake 

Never  eft  wol  his  head  ake; 

I  have  eased  him  of  that  bo  re. 

His  head  wol  ake  never  more. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


270  EABT.T   ESGIiiaH  METSICAX  B0II1.KCEB. 

AH  night  he  hath  ridden  idk, 
Withonten  halta,  withouteu  bridle. 
Yestardajr  he  wedded  me  wkh  tnomg. 
And  at  lu^t  I  did  him  hoog. 
Never  eft  abaU  he  womaa  apiU: 
Now  doeth  with  me  all  yonr  will!" 

As  it  wu  notoriona  that  ahe  had  been  mairied  to  Sir  Mile, 
and  no  less  so  that  she  had  murdered  him,  the  law  condemned 
her  to  the  flames ;  and  the  barona  in  the  interest,  who  were 
not  a  little  ofiended  b^  the  haughty  hwgiiage  of  her  confes- 
aioa,  exerted  themselvea  with  great  zeal  in  haEtening  the 
pn^wratiDB  for  her  execution.  Aacteptud,  from  the  wtdia  of 
hia  castle,  happened  to  descry  these  ponpaiationB,  and,  bub-' 
pecting  some  mischief  instantly  burst  open  the  galea  of  lus 
prison;  pbinged  into  the  water;  swam  towards  a  fisher- 
man's boat,  which  its  proprietor,  wisely  deeming  him  to  be 
the  devil,  hastily  abandoned  on  his  approach;  paddled  to  the 
(ntposite  shore;  and  advanced  with  hasty  sbidea  towards  the 
ci^.  He  was  orertaken  by  Sir  Bevis,  who  taxed  him  with 
treachery;  fiom  which,  however,  he  easily  exculpated  him- 
self. The  two  champions  then  hastened  forward;  cxtermi- 
n^ed  bU  who  opposed  them;  rescued  Josyan  from  the  stake 
to  which  she  was  already  bound;  and,  placing  her  behind  her 
lorer  oa  Arundel,  shortly  returned  to  the  Isle  of  Wight, 
where  the  princess  and  tiie  giant  were  duly  welcomed  1^ 
Sir  Saber. 

Both  parties  now  began  their  preparations  lor  war.  Sir 
Beris  aiM  Sir  Saber  collected  a  modemle  number  of  knights, 
widi  vhoee  valour  they  were  wdU  acquainted,  while  Sir  Mar- 
dour  summoned  a  large  army  from  Germany,  and  was  Joined, 
in  consequence  of  an  application  from  the  countess,  by  the 
King  of  Scotland.  In  the  month  of  Hay,  "when  leaves  and 
grass  ginneth  spring,"  Sir  Uurdour  cmharlted  his  troops, 
hmded  without  opposition,  and  encamped  close  to  a  castle  in 
which  Saber  had  collected  all  his  forces.  The  old  man,  ^a- 
daining  to  be  besi^ed,  had  no  sooner  descried  the  cnouy 
than  he  prepared  to  give  them  battle;  and  he«ding  one- 
Ibird  of  his  troops,  wtulst  ihe  two  odier  divisions  were  led 
on  by  ^  Bevis  and  by  Aacapaid,  began  dte  attack  with 
great  Any. 


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■IB  BSYIS  OF  HUlJPTOOIf.  271 

Sir  Men^  the  nxMUudwer  ao  fear,' 
His  ^teed  he  prieked  agsin  Sab^e. 
HU  spear  was  lei^,  am  aonudeal  keen; 
Sabeie  him  met,  and  that  was  seen! 
And  thatch  his  spear  were  sharply  g: 
Sir  Sabere  him  gave  a  deadly  woi 
In  the  mean  time  Sir  Bevis  had  solely  attached  himself  to 
Sir  Hnrdoor;  had  thrown  him  to  th«  groimd;  bat,  being 
e^relopad  hy  nnmben,  had  berai  nnahle  to  make  him  captive. 
He  thenfiHe  called  loudly  on  Asoapar^— 

I  I  and  to  him  said, 

"  Ase^i^d!  Bcrw  take  good  heed! 
The  emperor  rideth  on  a  white  steed, 
nine  hue  I  wol  yield  right  well, 
Qiff  thoa  hun  bring  to  the  caatel." 
Ascuiard  tho  forth  him  dight. 
And  both  he  slew  horse  and  kni^it, 
And  soon  he  took  that  emperour, 
And  broQght  him  swithe  to  the  tower. 
Sir  Beris  rode  swithe  great  randonn ; 
"  Let  boilen,"  he  said,  "  a  great  caldrmm, 
Full  of  pitch  and  brimstone. 
And  hot  lead  cast  thereinKiQ ! " 
Tho  it  did  seetiie,*  and  pmyed  &Bt, 
^  The  emperor  therein  he  cast, 

A  I  There  be  died  and  made  his  end ; 

}*^^^ '    I  His  soul  to  hell  so  mot  it  wend ! 
I  Houndee  gnaw  him  to  the  bone ! 
J  So  wreak*  us,  Ood,  of  all  our  iben ! 
By  the  captmre  and  death  of  the  chief  the  battle  was  of 
course  decided;  and  that  nothing  might  be  wanting  to  Sir 
Bcris's  vengeance,  the  oountess,  imwimng  to  snrvtTe  her  huS' 
hand,  threw  heradf  from  the  top  of  a  lofty  tower,  and  was 
ki^ed  on  the  spot.     The  burgesses  of  Soathamptoo,  now  at 
liMT^  to  espress  their  real  feelings,  rushed  out  m  crowds  to 
hail  the  ^iproach  of  their  natural  laid.     Sir  Boris  diqiatched 
a  measei^er  to  the  bishc^  of  Colt^ae,  who  joyfUlly  obeyed 
the  nmunons, 

'  lIoBiiew  a  far.  Br.  ■  B«L  *  Benoga. 


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p-^ 


272  KABLT  KxaLISH  KKTXICAi;  SOlUJTCKa. 

And  wedded  Beris  tnd  Joiyan, 

Witli  mirtfa.  and  joy  of  many  ■  man. 

Rigfat  great  feast  tfiere  was  hold. 

Of  earlc,  bannmB,  and  kni^htya  bold; 

Of  Indies  awfl  maidens,  1  nndentond. 

All  the  &ire8t  of  that  lond, 

lliat  all  Hie  caitle  dinned  and  nmg 

Of  her  mirth  and  of  her  song. 
Hie  reader  will  now  be  disposed  to  flatter  himself  diat  thia 
prodigious  and  eventful  history  is  termiimted ;  that  Sir  Berig 
viQ  in  future  sleep  quietly  in  his  bed,  Amndel  in  his  stable, 
and  Moi^lay  in  its  scabbu^  But  thongh  the  principal  inte- 
rest of  the  piece  is  at  an  end,  the  author  is  not  yet  prepared 
to  part  with  his  hero,  who  is  atill  yonng  and  TiMrous.  He 
has  also  npon  Ua  hands  two  Saiacett  kingdoms,  -Sioae  of  Er- 
mony  and  Maunbraunt,  which,  according  to  all  the  laws  of 
romonce-writiiig,  he  is  bound  to  convert  to  ChrisUaiiity ;  and 
a  giant,  whose  natiTe  propensities  to  wickedness  it  is  necessary 
to  develop. 

Sir  Bevis  had  now  avenged  the  death  and  regained  the  ter- 
ritories of  his  bther,  but  he  did  not  yet  possess  his  hereditary 
honours;  and  it  was  requisite  that  he  should  receive,  at  Lon- 
don, from  the  hands  erf'  his  sovereign,  the  investitnre  of  the 
earldom.  This  was  readily  conferred  by  King  Edgar  on  a 
vassal,  whose  heroic  deeds  were  already  celebrated  through 
the  country:  and  the  monarch  at  the  same  time  confcired'on 
the  knight  the  dignity  of  earl-marshal,  which  bad  been  also 
enjoyed  by  Sir  Guy.  Bat  merit,  thongh  it  may  sometimes 
command  oourt-&voiir,  is  ■very  sddom  found  to  retain  it. 

Id  eummer  it  was,  at  Whitsuntide, 

When  kni^t  mnst  on  horse  ride. 

Hie  king  a  course  he  did  grcde,' 

For  to  assaycn  the  best  steed, 

'Which  weren  both  stiff  and  strong. 
Sir  Bevis  would  not  lose  such  an  opportunity  of  proving 
the  incomparable  speed  of  Arundel;  and  tiiough,  by  some  mis- 
take, he  did  not  start  till  two  knights,  his  competitars,  hod 
already  advanced  two  miles  out  of  seven,  of  which  the  course 
consisted,  he  persevered  and  won  the  lUcc.  Edgar's  son,  de< 
'  CMucd  to  ba  cried  or  proclainied. 


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SIS  KBTI8   or  HAHPTOTTK.  27S 

siroos  of  poeaefaing  the  beat  horse  is  the  worid,  b^xed  him 
as  a  boon  from  Sir  Bens;  and  when  the  knight  i^fiiaed  to 
part  with  his  old  &TOurite,  the  mean-spirited  prince  deter- 
mined to  steal  him.  But  wc  have  seen  Uiat  Arundel  was  not 
easily  compelled  to  change  his  masters.  When  the  prince, 
having  eained  admittance  into  the  stable,  appToacbed  the 
steed,  with  the  intention  of  leading  him  away,  the  indignant 
Arundel  gate  him  a  sudden  kic^  and  scattered  his  brains 
about  the  stable.  Edgar,  inconsolable  for  the  loss  of  his  son, 
swore  to  Ik  revenged  on  Sir  Boris,  and  ordered  him  to  be 
banged,  drawn,  and  quartered;  but  the  barons  refused  to  loiity 
this  unjust  sentence,  observing  tliat  Arundel  alone,  being 
guil^  of  the  murder,  must  suffer  punishment.  Sir  Bevis,  how- 
eTer,  proposed,  as  an  expiation  of  the  horse's  crime,  to  banish 
himse^  mnn  England,  and  to  make  over  all  his  estates  to 
bis  uncle  Saber;  and  this  commutation  being  accepted,  be 
immediately  departed  with  Arundel  for  Soutbamptou. 

Joeynn  was  &r  advanced  in  her  pregnancy  when  she  leamt 
the  necessity  of  her  immediate  departure;  yet  she  obeyed 
without  a  murmur,  asd  set  off  accompanied  only  by  Boris 
and  his  nephew,  Teny.  Meanwhile,  this  change  in  the  fbr- 
tones  of  Sir  Bevis  produced  a  considerable  alteration  in  the 
mind  of  Ascapard.  By  betraying  a  master  whom  he  had 
served  rather  from  the  ^bitof  ob^ence  than  from  gratitude, 
he  hoped  to  obtain  the  most  important  ferours  from  his  fbr- 
mer  sovereign ;  and,  having  learned  exactly  the  route  which 
Bevis  intended  to  take,  he  hastened  to  Moonbraunt;  and,  pro- 
mising King  Inor  to  replace  Josyan  in  his  hands,  obtained  from 
him  a  company  of  sixty  Saracens  to  assist  in  carrying  her  off, 
toeether  with  the  assunmoe  ot  a  princely  reward  in  the  event 
ofhis  success. 

The  exiled  trnvelleis  advanced  but  slowly.  Josvsn  was 
seized,  in  the  midst  of  a  forest,  with  the  pains  of  child-birth ; 
and  Bevis  and  Terry,  having  constructed  a  hut  fbr  her  recep- 
tion, h^ether  with  a  conch  of  leaves,  received  her  commands 
to  absent  themselTcs  for  a  few  hours,  and  then  return  to  her 
•asistance.  Scarcely  were  they  departed,  when  she  was  deli- 
vered of  two  htavt  diildten,  and  almost  at  the  same  instant- 
she  beheld  the  ferodons  Ascapard,  who,  well  aware  of  the 
absence  of  hei  protecton,  earned  her  off,  without  peeing  the 
least  legaid  to  bar  fton  or  oitteaties.    Beris,  retnimiig  wiUi 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


274  KASLT   BITSI.IBH  HETXICUD  KOMARCES. 

Tory  to  the  bat,  md  finding  ihe  two  dnUim  naked.  Mid  on- 
accompanied  by  their  mother,  easily  goeMed  what  had  hp- 
pencd,  and  swooned  with  grief;  but,  aoon  recoreiing  hinad^ 
out  in  two  the  emuBe  mantle  of  Joayon.  which  had  ftr- 
tanntely  been  left  behind;  caiefally  wrapped  op  the  duUren; 
and,  mounting  hta  borne,  pnianed  his  jonmey.     A  fbrcater. 
whom  he  met  shortiy  after,  readily  undertook  die  charge  of 
one  of  the  chfldren.  pnnnisiiig  to  diristen  it  by  the  name  cf 
Got,  and  to  educate  it  with  gieat  care  till  it  riwold  be  ic- 
cfaumed:  and  the  other  woa  cons^ned  to  a  fiabnman,  together 
with  Im  marh,  with  directiMis  to  dmstoi  it  by  the  name  of 
IfOe.  and  tite  eeremoBy  waa  duly  peifermed  at  A>  ekmrd  h3» 
in  his  village.     The  knight  and  his  young  squire  now  emei^ed 
from  the  fbicst,  and  arrived  at  a  considerable  town,  where 
they  determined  to  stay  some  time  in  the  hope  of  hearing  in* 
telligence  amceming  Aacspard  and  Josyan. 
On  a  soleer,'  as  Beris  looked  out. 
At  a  window  an  about, 
Hehns  he  flaw  and  biynnys*  bright: 
He  had  great  wonder  of  that  si^t. 
He  learnt  from  his  host,  that  a  touraameni  had  been  pro- 
doimed  at  the  request  of  a  young  lady,  tbe  daughter  and 
heiress  of  a  doke,  who  meant  to  give  her  hand  to  the  victor 
knight     Though  indifiereat  about  the  prize.  Sir  Bevis  was  by 
no  meana  induferent  about  an  opportunity  of  justing,  and 
Terry  was  still  mure  anxious  to  prove  hia  valour. 
Sr  Bevis  diuuised  all  his  weed. 
Of  black  cendal  and  of  rede, 
Flooriahed  with  roses  of  ulver  hri^t; 
And  that  was  thing  of  fiill  great  sight. 
Ther  oomen  riding  in  the  way, 
Bevis  and  Terry  together,  th^  tway; 
A  kn^ht  was  ready  in  that  giene, 
And  Bevis  {uioked  to  him,  as  I  weoe. 
In  short,  Bevis  snd  Terry  overcame  aQ  ^tfir  anti^ontsto, 
and  d>e  fbnner  was  selected  by  the  fiur  lady  as  her  intended 
hoAaiid;  but  as  she  found  that  he  waa  alr»dy  married,  and 
as  heaven  had  blessed  her  with  an  accommodatmg  di^Kwitian, 
she  pnpoaed  that  he  should  be  her  lord  only  m  dtmt  mamm; 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


818  BETIS   0¥  BAIfTTOTHr.  37S 

and  that  if,  after  aevea  yeflra  of  tiuB  !4atonie  spprmtioeBliip, 
bis  real  wife  ahonld  appear,  abe  iroiild  then  accept  Tenr  u 
her  InubfUid.     "niese  tenuB  wen  acoepted  by  Beria  and  by 


Bnt  we  most  now  haeten  to  Sir  Saber,  wbo,  thdmk  rather 
an  insimificant  character  in  the  prime  of  Hfe,  is  become  vary 
inteiestangm  bis  old  age,  and  increaaes  in  adiTity  aa  he  ap- 
proacbefl  faiwarda  decrepitude.  Saber  was  a  great  dreamer; 
and  hia  wife,  whose  name  was  Bneborogh,  was  a  great  ex- 
pounder of  dreams;  so  that  no  sooner  had  Aacapard  earned 
eff  Joayan,  than  this  conple  diaooTercd,  by  goiiig  to  aleep, 
that  some  greart  miafbrtnne  had  befUlen  8ir  Bena,  and  that 
he  had  lost  either  bis  wife,  or  bis  cbildreB,  tx  Ha  hone,  or  hia 
sword.  Saber  instantly  summoned  twelve  of  bis  best  knights, 
cased  them  in  ctonplete  armour,  concealed  under  pilgnms' 
robes,  gave  them  bttrdoru  or  staves  beaded  with  the  sharpest 
steel,  and,  assuming  the  tame  disguise,  put  himself  at  tiieir 
head,  and  took  Ihe  road  to  MounMannt.  He  even  travelled 
with  such  expedition,  tbBt  hp  oyertook  Ascapard,  killed  him 
with  die  first  throst  of  hia  bnrdon,  and,  as  soon  aa  his  com- 
panions had  destroyed  the  sixty  Saracens,  which  was  very 
speedily  efibcted,  sent  them  home  to  bis  wife  to  announce  the 
accomplishment  of  his  dream.  Joc^an  made  an  ointment;  and 
Her  Adn  that  was  both  bright  and  ahene 
Therewith  she  made  botii  yellow  and  grene; 
and,  being  thna  completely  dis^oiacd,  accompanied  Saber 
dnring  near  seven  years,  till  Providence  led  them  to  the  town 
where  Sir  Bevis  resided.  Here  her  &ithfi]l  guide,  having  dis- 
covered  his  son  Tenr,  delivered  her  into  the  arms  of  her  hus- 
band; and  her  children  being  sent  for,  die  was  restored  to 
tranquillity  and  happiness  after  ber  long  and  disattrotu  wan- 
derings. 

We  are  now  summoned  to  the  coimtry  of  Ermony,  vriiich 
King  Inor.  having  lost  aH  traces  of  Ascapard  and  Josyan,  and 
thii^ing  it  necessary  to  vent  bis  rage  on  that  princess's  &ther, 
had  determined  to  by  waste  with  fire  and  sword,  ITris  news 
was  brought  to  Sir  Bevis,  who,  sending  his  smnmons  to  all 
(&e  waniors  whom  be  had  formerly  commanded,  soon  col- 
lected a  respectable  army  for  the  defence  of  King  Ermyn,  and, 
potting  himffitf  at  ttuir  head,  togedur  wi&  Josyan,  Saber, 
t2 

D,j„.„^.,  Cookie 


376  EiKlT  XVOUSH  VITBIOJO.  KOKUICEB. 

and  the  duUren  Ony  and  HOe,  mBrclwd  to  the  capital.  £r- 
mjn  ms  scarcely  teas  fri^tened  by  the  apfovac^  of  his  aon- 
in-lair  than  by  that  of  his  enemy;  he  threw  himself  on  his 
Imees.  implored  foi^renem,  and  finally  propoeed  to  embrace 
Christianity.  Hie  last  article  ensured  hiin  a  complete  recon- 
ciliation with  hia  son  and  daughter;  and  his  subjects  being 
easily  persuaded  that  the  true  religion  was  that  which  placed 
Sir  Beris  at  their  head,  and  ensured  thon  £rom  being  plun- 
dered, the  baptism  of  the  monarch  was  aoon  followed  by  that 
nd  the  whole  country. 

He  fortune  of  war  was  not  pn^tiooa  to  King  Inor,  who 
was  taken  prisoner  in  the  first  engagement,  and  sent  to  Er- 
myn,  with  whom  it  was  agreed 

That  his  ransom  ben  shold 

Sixty  hundred  pounds  of  gold. 

With  four  hundred  beds,  of  silk  each  one, 

With  quiltys  of  gold  &ir  b^one, 

Four  hundred  cnppys  of  gold  fine, 

And  all  so  many  of  maselyn.' 
llie  venerable  Ermyn  did  not  long  suiriTe  this  good  for- 
tnne.  Finding  his  end  approaching,  he  sent  for  Ouy,  placed 
the  crown  on  his  head,  and  expired.  The  good  Saber,  seeing 
the  family  of  Sir  Beris  so  well  established,  now  became  de- 
RTOus  of  visiting  his  wife  Emebomgfa,  ajid,  taking  leave  <tf 
his  friends,  returned  to  En^^and. 

Guy  being  firmly  settled  on  the  throne  of  Ennony,  Sir 
Beris  and  Joeyan  might  have  enjoyed  a  long  interval  of  tran- 
quillity, but  for  the  machinationB  of  a  wicked  thief  called 
fiabonc,  at  the  court  of  King  Inor,  who,  being  tolereldy  versed 
in  the  black  art,  contrived  to  spirit  away  the  feithfiil  Amnd^ 
^lis  was  a  constant  subject  of  regret  to  his  disconsolate  mas- 
ter; but  fortunately  Sir  Saber,  being  now  returned  to  his 
wife,  had  resumed  Uie  habit  of  dreaming,  and  found  out  that 
•omething  of  value  had  been  lost  which  it  was  his  business  to 
discover  and  restore.  He  therefore  set  off  without  hesitation 
fiir  Uounbraunt,  and,  arriving  in  bis  pilgrim's  garb  at  a  river 
near  the  town,  to  which  the  horses  were  usually  led  to  water, 
discovered  the  perfidious  Rabone  mounted  on  ArundeL  He 
inuDediately  ftdcUcssed  the  thief: 

>  Bean.   Sm  HsIUmU't  DktioDuy,  p.  543. 


j„.„^L,  Google 


■la  BKTiB  or  BAHFTODK.  377 

*■  Fdlow,"  he  nid,  "  bo  Ood  me  speed. 

This  may  well  be  called  a  steed. 

He  is  well  breasted  without  doubt; 

Good  fellow,  turn  thee  about." 

And  OB  he  tamed  hint  there, 

Up  behind  lept  Sabere. 

He  smote  to  de&&  the  thief  lUlmne 

With  the  end  of  his  tnmcheon. 
He  now  set  off  at  full  speed  for  Ennony,  and,  as  the  news 
of  Amuders  escape  bad  been  inetantly  carried  to  King  Inor, 
was  shraib^  followed  by  a  little  aimy  of  the  best-monnttd 
Saracens.  But  Josyan,  who  was  etanding  on  a  turret,  recog- 
nised the  horse  at  a  great  distance;  she  apruad  thealann;  and 
Sir  Beris^  putting  himself  at  the  bead  of  a  few  followers,  soon 
rescued  lus  friend,  and  cut  off  the  heads  of  all  his  impertinent 
pursuers. 

Inor,  much  disturbed  by  this  ill  succeas,  requested  the 
advice  of  his  brother  Bradwiu,  king  of  Sjria.  Bradwin  ob- 
served to  him  that  he  was  a  knight  of  great  prowess;  thot 
Bevis  was  not  iuTulnemble;  that  die  event  of  battles  was  in 
the  hand  of  Mahomet;  and  that  he  would  do  well  to  say  his 
prayers  with  great  earnestness  and  solemnity,  and  thai  to 
propose  a  sin^e  combot  with  Bevis.  Inor,  who  was  not  at 
all  deficient  in  courage,  took  the  advice,  and,  leading  an  army 
into  Ermony,  thus  addressed  his  adversary: 
"  Bevis,  thott  shalt  understonde 

Why  we  come  into  this  londe. ,   . 

first,  thou  ravished  my  wife,   \    'V  ~-  ■  ■ 

And  sithen  reft  my  men  their  life. 

Therefore  have  I  taken  counsayl 

Between  us  two  to  hold  batayl. . 

And  if  thou  slay  me,  by  Tennagannt, 

I  give  theo  the  londe  <^  Mounnaunt; 

And  if  I  slay  thee,  nat  forthy," 

I  will  thou  graunt  me  Eimony." 
Hese  conditions  were  joyfully  accepted;  and  the  two  com- 
batants rode,  in  the  sight  of  their  reapectiTe  armies,  towards 
a  small  island  encompassed  by  a  deep  and  rapid  river.     Lior 
1  The  ooTUtrnctloii  lenni  to  be,  "  uid  if  m  Hi  ofJUr  hmd  I  lUj  theet" 
pnfaap*  matfarthg  ii  untrtMf. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


27S  K^KLT   EXQLISH  lUTBICU.  ItOKUICBS. 

hmA  the  honooi'  d  diwatiBg  &%  nctoiy  mndi  bngei  tlutn 
cootd  lukve  been  expected,  but  sunk  at  last  under  the  dIows  of 
the  terrible  Uoiglay.  Hia  troops  were  cut  frfF  to  a  nun; 
after  which  Berie,  having  put  on  the  "  oonyaannce"  or  coat- 
armour  of  his  adversary,  rapidly  marched  Ins  army  to  Monn- 
lotrant,  and,  being  mistaken  hy  tlie  garriaon  for  tLeir  aore- 
reign,  was  admitted  without  hesitatioii..  Hius  was  he  inreeted 
wiui  a  aecond  empire,  which  he  had  the  fildll  or  good  fbitane 
to  reclaim  from  Habometanism  by  the  usaalroethodB;  enrieh- 
ii^  all  early  proselytes  to  Christiamty,  and  cutting  to  pieces 
without  mercy  thoee  who  penisted  in  their  anaa. 

One  day,  whilst  Sir  Beris  snd  Josyan  were  taking  die 
pteasam  of  the  chase,  they  met  a  messenger  dispatched  to 
Sdber  by  his  good  old  wife,  to  announce  that  Edgar,  king  of 
En^amd,  had  deprived  th^  eon  Robert  of  aB  his  estates,  for 
the  pmpoee  of  enriching  a  wicked  &TOurite,  Sir  Bryant  of 
CMiiwaQ.  Bevis,  who  luid  bestowed  these  estates  on  Saber, 
ooDsideavd  sudi  an  act  as  a  personal  insult,  and  determined  to 
mnan^tmv  his  frirad  b>  England  at  the  head  of  a  formidable 
■■My.  Tiiej  landed  in  nfety  at  Sontlianwton,  and,  maidting 
rapMly  towards  Lcmdon,  encamped  at  Pntn^.  Here  ^ 
Beris  Irfl  his  troops,  together  with  Josyan,  Saber,  Terry,  Guy, 
•Dd  Mite,  and,  taking  with  him  only  twelve  knights,  repaired 
to  tiie  king,  whom  he  found  at  Wesbningter,  and,  fidling  oa 
his  knees,  humbly  requested  the  icstoratiiin  of  his  estates. 

Edgsr,  always  inclined  to  peace,  would  have  been  dad  to 
ccmseat;  but  ms  stewanl.  Sir  Bryant,  observed  to  him  that  Sir 
Bevis  was  a  traitor,  who  trained  op  his  bones  in  the  habit  of 
kicking  out  the  brains  of  princes,  and  that  he  was  still  an  out- 
law, whose  death  it  was  tl^  duty  of  all  good  subgectB  to  procure 
by  etery  possible  device.  The  king,  bstening  to  this  secret 
enemy,  gave  no  aatnrer,  and  Sir  Bevis,  with  bis  attendants, 
took  up  their  lodgings  in  the  city  to  await  his  determination: 
hut  acarcelr  were  th^  arrived  at  their  inn,  wh«i  they  heard 
that  a  proclamation  had  been  issued,  enjoining  the  cituens  to 
shut  their  gates,  to  bamcade  every  street,  and  to  seize  Sir 
Bevis  alive  or  dead.  The  kni^t  now  found  it  necesssiy  to 
rovide  for  bis  defence.  Having  aimed  himself  and  his  fol- 
iwers,  he  sallied  forth  in  hopes  of  forcing  his  way  out  of  the 
ity  befiMe  the  measures  of  security  should  be  complete;  but 
he  inunediately  met  the  steward.  Sir  Bryant,  at  the  b^d  of 
twtt  hundred  siddiera — 


tftm 

fowl 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


BIS  BKTiB  or  HAHrrOVK.  S79 

A  BtndLe  ht  Mt  npon  his  erawn, 
llvt  to  ibe  saddle  he  clave  him  down. 
So,  widiin  s  little  slound, 
AH  twQ  lumped  he  slew  to  grotnuL 
Thonn^  Oooae-lane  Bevis  went  tbo; 
There  wtu  him  done  right  micUe  wo! 
t  That  lane  was  ao  lumow  ;f-wroB^it, 
"Hiat  Bir  Bevis  mi^t  defend  him  nou^t. 
He  had  wnunrai  into  hie  hoode 
Many  a  battle  in  sDndry  londe; 
But  be  wM  nerer  bo  cambl  man. 
For  siker  of  aoodi,'  ns  he  was  lluu). 
When  Beris  bkw  his  men  were  dead. 
For  BMTow  conthe  he  ao  rede!* 
Snt  litXTf^y  his  award  he  drew. 
And  many  he  felled,  and  many  he  dew. 
Many  a  man  he  slew  tho. 
And  out  he  watt  with  mickle  wo ! 

The  destruction  of  our  hero  appeared  inevitable,  after  the 
disaatrons  adventure  of  Goose.lane,  where  bis  twelve  com- 
panions were  ingloriously  murdered:  hut  to  Sir  Bevis,  when 
I  armed  with  Mowlay  and  mounted  on  Arundel,  notbins  was 
1  wanting  but  a  Ueatre  sufficiently  spacious  for  tbe  display  of 
bis  valour;  and  this  be  found  in  the  Cheap,  or  mai^et-pkoe. 
He  was  beset  by  innumerable  crowds ;  but  Arundel,  indignant 
at  the  insolence  of  the  plebeian  assailarfts,  hj  kickiug  on  one 
aide  and  bitine  on  another,  dispersed  them  in  all  directions  to 
a  distance  of  forty  feet,  while  his  master  cut  off  the  heads  of 
all  such  as  were  driven,  by  the  pressure  of  those  behind, 
within  reach  of  the  terrible  Mor^y. 

In  the  meao  time  the  news  of  the  knight's  distress  was 
f^nead  from  month  to  moutb,  and  it  was  reported  to  Josyan 
that  he  was  actually  dead.  After  swooning  with  terror,  she 
related  the  circumstance  to  her  sons,  and,  blinded  by  fear. 
pn^Msed  an  immediate  retreat  But  they  answered  that  they 
were  resolved  to  seek  their  &ther  alive  or  dead,  itnd,  hastily 
requeatiag  her  benediction,  collected  four  thousand  knights, 
«ud  departed  at  fiill  speed  from  Putney. 

<  Ibr  ewtcin  trotlu  *  Could  think  of  no  oooonL 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


280  BIBLT  KFOLUH  WETBICAI.  SOIUICCES. 

Sir  017  beatrode  a  Sabjrte,' 

Hiat  ma  micUe,  and  nongfat  lif^it,*  ! 

That  Sir  Beria  in  Paynim  londe 
Hadde  i-vnnneii  with  his  faonde. 
A  sword  he  took  of  mickle  mi^it, 
1  That  waa  y-cleped  Aioimdi^tt, 
I  It  was  Laoncclot'a  dn  Lake, 
Therwith  he  alew  the  fire-dnke.* 
The  pomel  waa  of  cbart>ocle'  (tooe; 
(A  better  sword  was  nerer  Dtaie, 
ibg  BomannB  tellydi  aa  I  yon  lay, 
Ne  noae  dball  tiB  Doomeodaj.) 
And  Sir  Mylys  Ihere  beatrid 
A  dnmuKindaf  ,*  and  forth  he  rid. 
That  hone  was  swift  ss  anr  swallow. 
No  man  might  that  horse  begnllowe.' 
lliey  CKMSed  the  river  without  opposition  imder  cover  of 
the  night,  and,  having  aet  fire  to  Ludgate,  which  was  dosed 
against  them,  forced  &eir  way  into  the  city,  and  proceeded  in 
search  of  Sir^ferie.     Iliej  found  him  imtoncned  by  any 
wonnd,  but  qrtite  exhausted  fay  the  feti^e  of  a  battle,  which 
had  now  tasted  during  great  port  of  the  day  and  the  whole  of 
tiie  night.     Arundel  too  stood  motionlcBs,  bathed  to  his  fet- 
locks in  blood,  and  Burrounded  by  dead  bodies.     The  day  had 
just  dawned,  and  a  bulkier  of  some  note,  well  armed  and 
mounted,  made  a  blow  at  Sir  Beris,  under  which  the  hero 
drooped  to  his  saddle-bows;  but  at  the  same  instant  Sir  Guy 
rushed  forward : 

To  that  burgess  a  stroke  he  sent. 
Thorough  helm  and  hauberk  down  it  went ; 
Both  man  and  horse,  in  that  stound. 
He  cleaved  down  to  the  ground ! 
His  Bwordys  point  to  the  earth  went. 
That  fire  sprang  out  of  the  pavement. 
The  &t%ned  and  disheartened  Sir  Bevis  immediately  re- 
covered new  life  at  the  sight  of  his  son's  valoiur;  Arundel  too 
resumed  his  wonted  vivacity ;  and  when  Sit  Mile,  who  rivalled 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


aiK  BXTIB  or  HAKPTOUIT.  £B1 

his  lirother  in  gallantiT,  c&me  up  with  the  rest  of  the  rein- 
forcement, die  discomfiture  of  the  assailants  vas  soon  decided. 

"Hie  blood  feU  on  th&t  pnTement  ■ 

Bight  down  to  the  Temple-bar  it  went,         ' 

As  it  is  said  in  FrenchTomaunce, 

Both  in  Yngelonde  and  in  Fraunce. 

So  manjr  men  at  once  were  never  seen  dead. 

For  the  wster  of  Thames  for  blood  wax  red ; 

Fro  St  Mary  Bowe  to  London  Stone', 

That  ilke  time  was  honsiDg  none. 
In  short,  sixty  thousand  men  were  slain  in  this  battle ;  after 
which  Sir  Bevis  and  his  sons  returned,  crowned  with  victoiy, 
to  their  camp  at  Futner. 

King  Ednr,  alarmed  by  this  dreadful  slaughter,  of  which 
Bir  Br^nnt  had  been  the  sole  author,  and  was  fortunately  (be 
first  victim,  convened  his  council,  represented  to  them  his 
own  wish  for  peace,  and  suwcsted,  as  the  most  effectual 
means  of  obtaining  it,  the  oSer  of  his  only  daughter  and 
faeiiesB  to  Mile,  ion  of  Bevis.  The  barons  acceding  to  this 
propoeat,  the  marriage  took  place;  and  Sir  Mile,  in  right  of 
nis  wife,  was  crowned  Vinf  of  England.  Bevis,  with  Josyan 
and  his  other  son,  repaired  to  Ermony,  where  Sir  Guy  reeiuncd 
the  reins  of  govenmient,  and  then  continued  his  journey  to 
Mounbraunt,  of  which  he  had  reserved  the  sovereignty  to 
himself.  Here  the  amiable  Josyan  was  seized  wilh  a  mortal 
disease,  and  expired  in  the  arms  of  her  husband :  at  the  same 
moment  he  received  information  that  his  &ithM  Arundel  had 
died  suddenly  in  the  stable )  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  hero 
himself  breathed  his  last  on  the  lips  of  his  deceased  wife. 
Heir  remains  were  interred  under  the  high  altar  of  a  church 
erected  by  their  subjects  in  honour  of  their  memory,  and 
dedicated  to  St.  Laurence,  where  they  continue  to  work  fre- 
quent miracles. 

Qod  on  their  souls  have  now  pity. 

And  on  Arundel  his  good  steed, 

Qiff  men  for  horse  sbouldcn  sing  or  read! 

Thus  endeth  Sir  Bevis  of  Uamptoun, 

That  was  so  noUe  a  baroun. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


INTRODUCTION  TO  BICHAKD  CCEUR  DE  UON. 

This  romanoe,  accotding  to  iix.  Wartan,  has  been  thrice 
printed;  first  in  8to,  by  W.  de  Woide,  in  1509;  aaun  hy 
tite  same,  in  4to,  1528 ;  and  a  Uurd  tiioe,  withoot  Sd.\e,  by 
W.  C.  Ritson  doubted  the  existence  of  any  other  edition 
than  that  «f  1 528,  c^  which  there  is  a  copy  in  the  Bodleian 
LibraiT,  4to.  C.  39.  Art.  S^d. 

Of  the  MS.  copies  now  knawn  to  eiiat,  the  most  ancient  is 
a  fragment  in  the  Aucfainleck  MS.  in  the  Advocates'  library 
■t  uoinbargh:  thta,  however,  contains  only  two  leaves;  a 
■eeond  frt^ioit  is  amorist  the  Harleian  HSS.  No.  4690; 
and  a  third,  which  belonged  to  the  late  Dr.  Fanner,  is  now  in 
Donee's  collection  at  Ozfind,  No.  228.  The  most  perfect 
eopyeztant  is  in  thelilwaTyof  Cains  College,  Cambridge;  bnt 
even  in  this  several  leares  are  wanting. 

Tbe  following  abstract  is  principaSy  taken  from  the  CaioB 
C(^  M8.,'  the  omissions  of  which  were  supplied  in  one  place 
fimn  Donee's  MS.,  and  in  all  tiie  othen  fmni  the  printed 
copy;  which,  upon  coUation,  was  finmd  to  differ  from  it  only 
I^  ttie  occasioiuil  substitution  of  a  more  modern  phraseology, 
where  that  of  the  MS.  was  probably  considered  by  the  printer 
as  too  antiquated  to  be  intelligible. 

The  English  Tersion  of  this  romance  (for  it  is  professedly  a 
toasslation),  if  merely  considered  as  a  poem,  possesses  consi- 
derahle  merit.  The  verse,  it  is  trne,  is  gen^aDy  rough  and 
inhnimonions;  but  the  expression  is  often  fi>rcible,  and  uo- 
nsually  free  &t)m  the  drawling  expletives  which  so  fr^uently 
annoy  the  reader  in  the  comporations  of  the  minstrels.  Ju 
reconiing  many  particular  of  the  dtess,  food,  and  manners  of 
our  ancestors,  it  possesses  rather  more  tdaims  tm  our  curiosity 
than  other  romances  of  the  same  period,  becaose  it  was  com- 
jnled  within  a  very  few  years  of  the  eventa  which  it  professes 
to  describe :  ind^^  tAere  are  strong  reasons  for  believing 
that  the  first  French  original,  and  even  tine  cariiest  English 
version,  contained  an  authentic  history  of  Richard's  reign, 
compiled  from  otmtemporaiy  docnments,  although  that  history 
was  afterward  enlarged  and  disfigured  by  numerous  and  most 
absurd  interpcJations. 

>  Printid  in  Weber's  Metrical  Romuiix*,  1S18. 


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<    IIICHABD  CCETTB  DE  LION.        285 

:-  thiTC  said  that  "the  lord  of  a 
■  \:-].  liaving  observed  that  his  wife, 
li  fi  the  cbapol  before  mass  was 
'  ■  -J  piL'iid  to  detain  her  b j  forec. 
'iriiililc  to  support  the  clevEition  of 
.-li  iliG  air.  cam-ing  with  her  one 
-ii'.'eis  ill  the  edition  ofthcBrunn. 
V  l.i'ibnitz.     Hanov.  1707.  torn.  i. 


s  profllptey  of  Kiiir; 

I  (iiie  of  that  prince's  female 

niu  eoimtcss  of  Anjou.  from 

•V   I'laiitagenet,   was   married 

iinituin  beauty.      She  seldom 

aviiiciid  Btaying  for  the  cole- 

Tliis  being  observed  by  tlie 

fiiusfd  hor  to  be  held  W  fotir 

liii;;  tlie  mantle  by  whicn  they 

s  Jbiir  of  her  children,  two  of 

!-L<lc  with  her  cloak,  suddenly 

church,  before  the  whole  con- 

liichard  I.,  brother  of 

ecdote;  in  explanation  of 

it  t'n  himself  and  ail  his 

torn.  2.  p.  9. 

cd  by  Fordun  was,  pro- 

itfort,  whose  uncommon 

umamcd  Hcchin,  earl  of 

irns  again  carried  off  and 

l^hilip  being  exconununi- 

Anjouto  her  former  hue- 

ife  to  be  murdered ;  but 

r  whom  her  charms  had 

<he  continued  to  fill  the 

if  her  death.     It  would 

■BTied  for  her  power,  w 

ect  of  papal  excommuni- 

'  many  such  tales  as  thia 

y  her  husband  Fulk  of 

this  son  married  SibiUa, 

mte  do  AbUne,  and  liftd 


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284  XUtLT  BTdLIIH  XETXICU.  &0][i.irOXI. 

l^pesn  to  have  been  writtoi  yfhea  that  ordiT  were  at  the 
Might  of  their  iplendour.  Notr  ihev  were  snppreased  at  the 
very  oommcncemcnt  of  the  leign  of  Edward  11.,  and  probably' 
befme  the  first  English  tranuation  was  completed.  It  may 
therefore  be  aaenmed  that  such  an  event,  which  occnined  the 
attention  and  inteieeted  the  passiona  of  all  Enrope,  would  not 
have  passed  without  some  notice  or  comment,  had  not  the 
taanslator  felt  it  his  duty  to  give  an  exact  and  &ithfiil  copy 
of  his  Drigimd. 

From  the  internal  evidence  of  the  fictions  themselves,  the 
reign  of  Edward  I.  seems  the  most  likelv  period  which  can  be 
assigned  for  their  invention.  During  the  life  of  King  John 
the  remembrance  of  his  heroic  brolhn'  was  probably  too  fresh 
to  permit  any  material  alteration  of  the  real  story;  but  se- 
venty years  of  misetr  and  of  civil  dissension,  which  elapsed 
before  the  death  of  Henry  III.,  are  likely  to  have  diminished 
the  recollection  so  far  as  to  encour^e  the  minstrels  in  making 
any  changes  in  &e  poem  which  might  render  it  more  asto- 
nidiing  and  more  agreeable  to  their  heareia,  or  which  mi^t 
afibrd  them  an  opportunity  of  indirectlv  flattering  uie 
reigaing  prince,  whose  character  did  in  fiict  bear  some  resem- 
blance to  that  of  his  lion-hearted  ancestor. 

Billiard,  wo  know,  never  visited  the  Holy  Land  tiD  he 
^peared  there  at  the  head  of  a  most  formidable  army ;  but 
Edward,  having  taken  the  crose  before  his  accession,  fought 
there  as  an  adventurous  knight,  and,  though  almost  without 
troops,  greatly  signalized  himself  by  his  personal  valour 
against  the  infidels.  Richard  had  no  leisure  for  tournaments, 
but  Edward  had  an  opportunity  of  gaining  all  the  laurels  of 
chivalry  in  the  famous  lists  of  Chalons.  Possibly  these  coin- 
cidences may  account  for  the  pcrvemon  of  some  parts  of  the 
story :  but  it  must  be  owned  that  tiie  strange  feblo  of  the  feir 
Caesodorien  is  equally  inapplicable  to  Edward  and  to  Rich- 
ard; unless  we  suppose  that  the  author,  being  embarrassed  by 
the  positive  assertion  of  the  Scots,  "that  the  kinas  of  England 
are  descended  from  the  devil  on  the  mother's  side,"  hoped  to 
gratify  Edward  1^  this  ingenious  compromise. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  the  most  curious  mcident  in  this  fabln  is 
CMlainly  anterior  to  the  reign  of  Richard  I.,  because  it  is 
preserved  in  the  "  Otia  Imperiolia"  of  Gervnsc  of  Tilbury, 
irtiencc  it  is  quoted  by  Sir  W.  Scott,  (Minst.  of  Scot.  Border, 


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TD  SICHAKD  CtX17S  SB  LIOIT.         285 

Tol.  ii.  p.  184,  note).  It  u  there  said  tliat  "  the  lord  of  a 
certain  cutle  coUed  Espervel,  having  observed  that  his  wife, 
for  serenJ  years,  aJwaje  left  the  chapel  before  mass  was 
concluded,  once  ordered  his  guard  to  detain  her  by  force. 
The  consequence  was,  that,  unable  to  support  the  elevation  of 
the  host,  ^e  retreated  through  the  air,  earning  with  her  <me 
side  of  the  chapel."  Ihe  passage  is  iu  the  edititHi  oftbefinms- 
wicit  Historians  published  byLeibutz.  Uanov.  1707.  torn.  i. 
p.  978. 

Fordnn,  after  dwelling  on  the  atrocious  profligacy  of  King 
John,  applies  the  same  story  to  one  of  that  prince's  female 
ancestors.  He  says,  "  A  certain  countess  of  Anjou,  from 
whom  was  descended  Oeoffivy  Flantagenet,  was  married 
solely  on  account  of  her  uncommon  beauty.  She  seldom 
went  to  chiirch,  and  even  then  avoided  staying  for  the  cele- 
bratioa  of  the  holy  mysteries.  This  being  observed  by  the 
count  her  husband,  he  one  day  caused  her  to  be  held  by  four 
of  his  guards;  but  she,  abandmuug  the  mantle  bj  which  they 
tried  to  detain  her,  as  weQ  as  four  of  her  childr^i,  two  o£ 
whom  she  had  covered  on  each  aide  with  her  cloak,  suddenly 
flew  through  the  window  of  the  church,  before  the  whole  ixm- 
gregation,  and  was  never  more  seen.  Richard  I,,  brother  of 
Jomi,  used  Jreyumlly  to  relate  lAU  anecdote;  in  explanation  of 
&e  pervertencii  of  ditpoiilion  inAerent  in  Ainuelf  and  ail  hit 
brothera." — Scotichron.  cui&  Goodall,  tom.  2.  p.  9. 

The  certain  counteu  Aiyou  mentioned  by  Fordun  was,  pro- 
bably, the  celebrated  Berbade  de  Montfort,  whose  uncommon 
beauty  recommended  her  to  Fulk,  sumamed  Kechin,  earl  of 
Anjou,  and  who,  for  the  same  reason,  was  again  carried  off  and 
married  by  Philip  I.,  king  of  France.  Philip  being  excommuni- 
cated on  her  account,  she  returned  to  Anjou  to  her  fbnner  hns< 
band,  and  caused  his  son  by  a  former  wife  to  be  murdered ;  bat 
being  aeain  received  by  Fhiiip,  over  whom  her  charms  had 
procured  her  a  most  aboolute  sway,  she  continued  to  fill  the 
throne  of  France  till  near  the  time  of  her  death.  It  would 
not  be  surprising  if  a  woman  so  envied  for  her  power,  w> 
odious  from  her  vicea,  so  long  the  object  of  papal  excommnni- 
cadon,  had  been  made  the  heroine  of  many  such  tales  as  this 
of  Gcrvase  and  Fordnn.  She  had,  by  her  husband  Fulk  of 
Anjou,  a  son  o^  the  some  name ;  and  *^i*  son  married  Sibilla, 
oaiy  dau^ter  ud  heircM  of  tbe  Comte  du  Maine,  and  had 


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3M  SAKn    KKBLISH  XXTSICAI.  KOHAinnM. 


imaa  Bent  aone;  one  of  iriioni  wkb  Geofihii  le  Bd,  eari  of 
Ai^oii.  aeoontl  Inubaad  of  the  Empren  Matilda,  and  &&er  of 
Boirj  II.  Fordun'a  authority,  it  nratt  be  con&oaed,  is  not 
worth  tnndi,  wh««  the  chitntcter  of  our  Norman  princes  ia 
uuuuHued;  and  it  is  not  reiy  probable  that  Bidunrd  tued  to 
ntate  die  anecdote  attributed  to  him.  That  impetuonfy  of 
iaofer  irhicli  led  him  into  rebellion  against  his  fiilber,  wotdd 
ratlin'  induce  him  to  glory  in  the  crime,  than  to  excuse  it  on 
the  score  of  an  hereditary  disposition  derived  from  lus  gnat- 
gnat-grandmother. 

RICHARD  CCEUR  DE  LION. 

LoBD,  King  of  Olory,  what  ftronra  didst  thou  bestow  on  Kii^ 
Bidiaid!  How  edirping  is  it  to  tead  the  history  of  his  con- 
qoestal  Mam  acts  of  chivalry  an  &mOiarly  known;  the 
deeds  of  CharleniHgne  and  Turpm,  and  of  their  knighta  C^ier 
le  Oanois,  B^Jand,  and  (Mivet;  those  of  Alexander;  those  of 
Arthur  and  Oawain ;  and  even  the  ancient  wars  of  Troy  and 
^  es^its  (rf  Hector  and  Achilles,  are  already  current  in 
rhyme.  But  the  glory  of  Richard  and  of  the  peerless  knights 
of  England,  his  companions,  is  at  prcwnt  exhibited  only  in 
French  books,  which  not  more  than  one  in  a  hundred  of  nn- 
Uamed  men  can  understand,  lliis  story,  lordings,  I  propose 
to  tell  you ;  and  may  the  blessing  of  God  be  on  those  who  will 
listoi  to  me  with  attention! 

The  &ther  of  Richard  was  King  Henry;  in  whose  reign,  as 
I  find  in  my  original.  Saint  lllumias  was  slain  at  the  altar  of 
the  cathedral  of  CanterbuTT,  where  miradee  are  wrought  to 
this  day.  King  Henry,  when  twenty  };«ars  of  age,  was  a 
prince  of  great  Tslour;  but  having  a  dislike  to  matrimony, 
oonld  not  be  induced  to  take  a  wilb  on  account  of  her  wealth 
or  power;  and  only  acceded  to  the  entreaties  of  his  barons,  on 
Ae  condition  of  tbeir  providing  for  his  consort  the  most  beau- 
tifid  woman  in  the  ouveise. 

Ambassadors  were  immediately  dispatched  in  every  direc- 
tioa  to  search  fiir  this  paragon.  Chie  par^  of  them  was 
CBiried,  by  a  &ir  wind,  into  the  midst  of  the  ocean,  where 
they  w^e  suddenly  arrested  by  a  calm  which  thr^tmed  to 
prevent  the  further  prosecution  of  their  voyage.  Portonatdy, 
tke  hraoe  had  aJrcady  brou^  ftem  neariy  in  ocmtact  witit 


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another  vessel,  iriiMt  b^  its  aatomriiing  munificence  en- 
tfioaoed  their  whole  attentaon.  Every  nail  seemed  to  be 
headed  with  gold;  the  dedc  ma  painted  with  ttznre  and  in- 
laid with  ivory;  the  rudder  sjqtcwed  to  be  of  pore  gcdd;  the 
mast  wBS  of  irotr;  the  saOe  of  wtin;  the  ropes  of  silk;  on 
awning  of  cloth  of  gold  was  spraad  abcyve  the  deck ;  and  under 
tliis  awning  were  HnegnUed  divers  knights  and  ladies  most 
snperbtv  dressed,  appearing  to  fani  the  coort  of  a  princess 
whose  beaaty  was  "  bright  as  the  tarn  Umni^  1^  glass." 
Onr  ambassadon  vnre  hailed  by  this  sj^ndid  company,  and 
qnestioned  about  Ifae  oUeet  of  their  voyage:  which  being 
explained,  Uiey  were  eondttcted  on  board,  and  rccnvcd  with 
proper  ceremony  by  the  stranger  king,  who  rose  &om  his 
AmiT,  oomposed  of  a  single  carbuncle  stone,  to  salute  them. 
Tiwdefl  were  immediately  set;  a  taUe  covered  with  a  aiUcen 
doth  wM  laid;  a  rich  repast,  nshered  in  bf  the  sound  of 
trumpets  and  shalms,  was  served  up;  and  the  English 
laii|^  had  full  leiMin  dvrii^  dinner  to  contemplate  the 
"^f^i"  of  the  incompaiaMe  jvincess,  wbo  was  seated  near  her 
fcthar.  Tbe  king  Own  informed  Ifaem  that  he  had  been  in- 
(txncted  by  a  vision  to  set  sail  for  BnglaiMl  with  his  dai^hter; 
md  die  ambassadon,  ddi^jited  at  finding  the  sncceas  of  their 
search  oonfinned  with  thu  preternatural  authority,  proposed 
to  aeoompany  him  witluBt  loss  of  time  to  their  master.  A 
nordi-easterly  wmd  springing  up  at  the  moment,  they  set  sail, 
entraed  the  Humes,  and  soon  cast  andior  off  the  Tower; 
wii«e  King  Henry  hamKned  to  be  lo^ed,  and  was  informed 
by  hi*  ambassadcH*  ot  their  safe  airival. 

Henry  made  immediate  ^reparations  fbr  the  reception  of 
(he  loyal  vinton.  Attended  by  his  whole  court,  he  went  to 
meet  and  weloome  them  at  the  water-side;  from  whence  the 
wbcde  company,  preceded  by  bonds  of  miiratre^,  marched  in 
moeeasion  to  the  roj^  palaee  at  Westminster,  the  streets 
aiEoagfa  whidi  they  passed  being  hung  with  cloth  of  gold. 
A  magnificent  entertamment  was  pmrided;  after  which  Henry 
hcring  tbns  fidfilled  the  duties  <rf  hospitality  addteesed  die 

••  Lirf  8ii«,  what  is  Ay  name?" 
"^My  iwiin.,"  he  said.  "  is  Corbaring; 

Of  Aanooh  I  am  king." 

And  told  him  I  in  his  resomi*, 
'  Speech,  arciMn,  Ft. 

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388  XAALT  UrOLItH  XXXSIOAK  mOKAHOWM. 

He  came  thither  thoroosh  a  Tuum. 
"  For  BOthe,  Sire,  I  telle  toee, 
I  had  else  brought  more  mejnie ; 
Many  mo,  withouten  fiiil. 
And  mo  shippea  with  yitail." 
then  asked  he  that  lady  bright, 
"What  higfatest  thou,  my  sweet  wight?" 
*'  Cossodonen,  withouten  leasing." 

Thus  answered  she  the  king. 
"  Damsel,"  he  said,  "  bright  and  sheen. 
Wilt  thou  dwell  and  be  my  queen?" 
She  answered,  with  words  still, 
"  Sire,  I  am  at  my  &ther's  will." 
After  this  courtship  the  king  of  Antioch,  who  was  no  friend 
to  unneceasory  delays,  proposed  that  they  should  be  betrothed 
on  that  night;  and  that  the  nuptials,  which  he  wished  to  be 
private,  should  be  celebrated  on  the  following  momine. 

These  conditions  were  readily  accepted,  and  the  &ir  Caaoo- 
dorien  received  the  nuptial  benediction;  but  the  ceremony 
'  was  attended  with  an  untoward  accident.  At  the  elevation  of 
the  host,  the  young  queen  &inted  away;  and  her  swoon 
-  continued  so  long  ^t  it  became  necessafv  to  cony  her  out 
of  church  into  on  adjoining  chamber.  The  spectators  were 
much  alarmed  at  this  unlucky  omen;  and  she  was  herself  so 
disturbed  by  it,  that  she  made  a  tow  never  more  to  assist  at 
any  of  the  sacraments:  but  it  docs  not  seem  to  have  much 
interrupted  the  happiness  of  the  royal  couple,  because  the 
queen  became  saccessively  the  mother  of  three  children; 
Biehard,  John,  and  a  daughter  named  Topyas. 

During  fifteen  rears,  Cassodorien  was  permitted  to  perse- 
Tere  in  her  resolution  without  any  remonstrance  from  King 
Henry;  but  unluckily,  after  this  period,  one  of  his  piincipd 
barons  remarked  to  him  that  her  conduct  gave  generel  scauoal, 
and  requested  his  permission  to  detain  her  in  church  from  the 
oommencement  of  the  mass  till  its  terminatim.  Henry  ctm- 
sented;  and  when  the  queen,  on  hearing  the  bell  whidi 
announced  the  celebnUion  of  the  sacrament,  prepared  to  leate 
tile  church,  the  baron  oppooed  her  departure,  and  attempted 
to  detain  her  by  force.  The  event  of  the  experiment  was 
lather  extraordinary.  Cassodorien,  seizing  her  danghter  wHi 
one  hand,  and  Prinoe  John  with  the  other. 


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BICHAXD  C(EUS  S£  LtOH.  2S9 

Out  of  the  roof  she  gtm  her  dight' 

Openly,  before  nil  their  sight! 

John  fell  from  the  air,  in  that  stound, 

And  brake  his  thigh  on  the  ground; 

And  with  her  daughter  she  ned  away, 

That  nerer  after  ^e  was  y-seyei. 
Henry  repented,  when  it  was  too  late,  of  his  deference  to  ths 
advice  of  his  courtiers.  Inconitolable  fbr  the  loss  of  the 
beautiful  Casaodorien,  he  languished  fbr  a  short  time,  and  then 
died,  leaying  hia  dominions  to  his  eldest  son  Richard,  who 
was  now  in  his  fifteenth  year,  and  was  already  distinguished 
by  his  prematore  excellence  in  all  the  eserciseB  of  chivaliy. 

In  the  first  year  of  his  reign  the  young  king  caused  a 
solemn  tournament  to  be  proclaimed  at  Stdisbury,  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining,  by  experiment,  the  stoutest  knights 
in  his  dominions.  Widi  this  Tiew  he  prepared  three  several 
diKuisea,  in  which  He  meant  to  appear  as  a  haght  advtnturmi*, 
and  to  challenge  all  comers.  His  first  suit  of  armour  wns 
Um^;  his  horM  was  of  the  same  colour;  and  the  only  device 
1^  which  he  could  be  distinguished  was  a  raven  on  ue  crest 
of  hia  helmet,  which  hod  its  beak  open,  aa  if  panting  from 
fatigue,  and  had  a  bell  suspended  from  its  neck.  The  bird,  it 
seems,  was  an  emblem  of  patience  under  labour  and  pain;  and 
tiie  beQ  signified  the  Christian  church,  the  protection  of  which 
is  liie  principal  aim  of  chivalry.  Thus  occoutered,  he  issued 
from  a  neignbouiing  wood,  entered  the  lists,  and  proclaimed 
a  general  challenge.  The  invitation  was  not  tempting, 
because  the  enormous  size  of  his  spear,  which  was  fourteen 
feet  long,  and  one-and-twenty  inclies  round,  intimated  no 
common  strength  in  the  arm  by  which  it  was  wielded.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  first  knight  who  ventured  to  encounter  it  was 
instanU^r  overset,  tcweuer  with  his  hone;  a  second  was  borne 
down  with  such  violence,  that  hoise  and  man  were  killed  by 
the  &1I;  and  a  third  was  punished  foi  his  temeri^  by  a 
dislocated  shoulder  and  various  other  bruises.  No  other 
dtampion  thought  fit  to  accept  the  defiance ;  and  the  black 
knight,  having  waited  for  some  time  to  no  purpose,  set  spurs 
to  his  horse,  plunged  into  the  forest,  and  disappeared.  He 
now  mounted  a  hi^  horse;  aa>nmed  a  suit  of  armour  of  painted 

■  Hade  tsadr  to  go.  *  Sssb. 

u 

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2M  EABLT    EKOLI9B    KETSICAX    BOIUKCES. 

red;  tmd  a  helmet,  fbe  CMst  of -wbidi  vas  ared  hound  with  a 
long  tail  which  reached  to  the  earth;  an  emblem  iutended  to 
conv^  his  indignation  against  the  hewAen  hoimda  who  defiled 
die  Ilolf  Land,  and  fain  determination  to  attempt  their  des- 
truction. Having  BufGciently  signalized  himidf  in  this  new 
disguise,  he  rode  into  the  nmks  for  the  psrpaae  of  selecting 
a  more  foimidoble  adversary ;  and,  deliveriag  his  spear  to  his 
squire,  ttxJc  his  maee,  and  asaauhed  Sir  Thomas  de  Multoo, 
a  knight  wboee  wowesa  'was  deservedly  held  io  the  highrat 
eatimation.  Sir  Thamae,  ^pazently  not  at  all  disconoeBted 
by  a  blow  which  would  have  felled  a  oanaaia.  -advetsaiy, 
calmly  advised  him  lo  go  and  amnae  himself  elsewhere; 
but  Richard,  having  aimed  at  him  a  aecond  and  nMire 
violest  stroke,  by  wluch  his  helmet  nae  nearly  crushed,  he 
returned  it  witli  such  vigour  that  the  king  lost  his  stiirupa. 
and,  recovering  himself  with  some  difficull^,  rode  off  with  all 
qieed  into  the  forest.  Here,  after  re&eshing  himself  with  a 
large  draught  of  water,  he  assumed  hie  third  di^nise,  iriiit^  - 
was  a  Buit  of  white  armour,  with  a  red  cross  painted  on  his 
right  shoulder.  His  a^t  was  a  white  dove,  an  embkm  of 
the  holy  |^>ost,  and  he  was  mounted  on  a  mow  white  charger. 
Mot  fl"fli-ng  any  kni^t  disposed  to  just  with  him,  he  rade 
round  the  ring  in  search  of  a  worthy  antagonist ;  and,  espying 
Sir  Fulk  Doyley,  instantly  attacked  him  with  all  hie  nu^t. 
But  Sir  Fulk  was  no  less  phlegmatic  than  Sir  Thtmias.  33ie 
stroke  of  Bicbsrd's  mace,  though  it  struck  fire  fiom  Us 
helmet,  seemed  to  moke  no  impression  on  the  head  ooataincd 
in  it,  and  the  stout  kni^t  oonteuted  Jiimself  with  reman, 
strating  against  a  i^ietition  of  the  attack.  But  a  aecond  bls>w, 
still  more  vigorous  than  the  formw,  having  awakened  him 
from  his  lethargy,  he  eaerted  all  his  strength,  and  stmok  tJie 
king  with  such  violence  that  he  lost  not  only  his  Btimips  but 
tbe  saddle  also,  and,  being  unable  to  ^uide  his  hotse,  wa^ 
boTse  mray  by  him,  almost  senseless,  to  we  palace. 

The  toumamcait  being  concluded,  he  summoned  Ihe  imo, 
hni^ta  wlnse  poiios  ne  had  so  feelingly  witnessed,  sod 
ndeiTogatad  titem  NKieotiag  the  merits  m  the  aereoBl  XKaa- 
botanta.  Both  agreei  in  aiaignuig  the  honou  of  die  A^  to 
ftne  w^Mnra  cnii^tts  in  btaok,  md,  and  white  awnir, 
though  each  comulamed  of  his  respective  adversaiy  for  his 
unprovoked  attack,  and  for  his  subseqmBt  wtsest,    vrhich 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


sicHABS  etsmt  SB  LioK.  291 

depriTed  them  of  Ute  vichRT  &tj  bad  htmed  fai  aEtqnire. 
Sir  Fulk,  tmable  to  reoeomle  the  atrength  and  appaient 
bravery  of  the  white  knight  with  sadi  strange  conduct,  firml;^ 
beUeved  him  to  be  some  pretenuitiml  penonage : 
"  Y-wa',  Sire  Ki^,"  quoth  Sir  Foiik, 
"  I  wme  tiiat  Itnigfat  was  a  pon^." 
Ridbard,  with  a  amile,  explained  to  lliein  the  apparent 
mygtery.  He  informed  them  that  it  was  his  wish  to  visit  the 
Holy  Land  in  the  habit  of  a  pilgrim,  for  tiie  double  purpose 
of  satisOring  bis  devotion,  and  of  recomioitring  the  military 
poeitione  in  that  country ;  and  that,  having  selected  them,  as 
the  intended  companiont  of  his  eipeditjon,  he  had  previously 
-wished  to  ascertain,  by  hw  own  experience,  whether  they 
were  fit  for  such  an  udueua  enterprise.  He  then  proposed 
that  they  sbonU  ail  three  take  the  oath  of  seoreey  and  of 
inviolable  attachment  to  ewdk  other;  and  Uie  two  knights 
having  joyfully  entered  into  bis  -views,  and  contracted  the 
sacred  engagement  by  which  they  all  became  bntAers  m  artnt, 
they  embraced  each  other,  and  parted,  after  a  ihort  repast, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  the  neoeMory  prepantions  for  the 
journey. 

At  the  end  of  twenty  days  ttiey  set  sail,  accmtred 

With  pike,  end  with  eclavyn. 

As  pshnere  were  in  Paynim, — 
and  landed  in  Flanders;  firom  whence  tbey  jxDceeded  bv  land 
till  they  arrived  at  Bnumdys,  where  they  agun  took  Bhippiug 
&r  Cyprus. 

At  Famagos  they  came  to  land; 

There  tbey  dwelled  tarty  dawei. 

For  to  leun  land's  iam. 

And  sith  did  them  on  the  sea. 

Towards  Aores,  thai  cit^. 

Aid  ao  forth,  to  Massedoyne, 

And  to  the  cK6  of  Sabjiayne, 

And  ito  thettc«  to  Oeawe; 

Of  NiiiMthe7  w«fe  wan, 

And  the  titk  m  Jemsalein, 

And  uf  the  cit£  of  Bedlsm, 

And  of  the  «it£  of  SoKdan  nniy. 

And  eke  also  of  Abedy. 

«  A  p«d^  •  Mry. 

V  3 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


393  BUILT  ENOLiaU  XXTRrCAL  BOIUirOKS. 

And  to  the  Castel  Oi^Iyoua, 
And  to  the  cit^  Aperrons; 
To  JaSe,  and  to  Saftrane, 
To  Tabu^t  and  Archasc. 
Thus  they  visited  the  Holy  Land. 
On  their  retom  they  unfortuoatelT  determined  to  yan 
thioogh  Germany,  where  they  met  with  the  following  nnistor 
sdrentuic. 

A  goose  *  they  dight  to  their  dinner 
In  a  tavern  where  they  were. 
King  Richard  the  fire  bet; 
Thomas  to  the  spit  him  set; 
Fouk  Doyley  tempered  the  wood; 
Dear  abonght  they  that  good! 
When  they  had  drunken  well  afin, 
A  minstiallc  com  therein. 
And  said,  "  Gentlemen,  wittily. 
Will  ye  have  any  minstrelsy?" 
Richud  bade  that  she  should  go; 
That  turned  him  to  mickle  woe! 
The  minstmlle  took  in  mind,' 
And  said,  "  Ye  are  men  unkind; 
And,  if  I  may,  ye  shall  for-think* 
Ye  gave  neither  meat  ne  drink. 
For  gentlemen  should  bedc. 
To  minstrels  that  abouten  yede. 
Of  their  meat,  wine,  and  ale: 
For  los'  rises  of  minsttale." 
She  was  English,  and  well  true. 
By  speech,  and  sight,  and  hide,  and  hue. 
Havii^  recognised  the  pretended  palmers,  she  hastened  to 
denounce  them  to  tlie  kmg  of  Almoin,  who  immediately 
ordered  them  into  bis  presence,  and,  accosting  King  ^chard. 
"called  turn  (aybn/,  ana  said  him  shame;"  ana  finaUy  ordered 
I  TUi  itruige  itorjr  t>  iDnded  to  b;  Petnu  d'Ebnlo,  ■  writer  of  tha 
twdMi  ocntorj,  In  hi*  hiatorical  poem  "  De  motibiu  Sienlii,  et  reboi  Inter 
HcBrtcnm  VI.  et  Tincredan)  gnUi."     It  wu  edited  bj  Sumiel  Ecgel. 
ftOB  k  HS.  In  the  libnrf  of  Beme,  which  Kemi  to  hne  been  presented 
(n  the  eauioiijl   Henry  TI.  in  the  yeu  1196.     Engel,  in  s  note,  qsotei 
Otto  da  S.  Bluia  (*  coodaaitor  of  tha  Chtooide  of  Otho  Fii*^""^ 
pibliiliiBd  ^  Untitini)  for  the  ume  atory. 
*  Wm  ufcuibiL  '  Bepeot.  *  Bepntatioa,  gtory. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


BIOHAKD  CfEVB  SE  LIOK.  203 

that  the  pOgrims  sboiild  be  thrown  jito  a  dungeon,  for  having 
entered  ms  domimong  withmtt  leave  and  with  a  treaaonable 
intention.  It  was  in  Tain  that  Richard  and  his  componionB 
called  Heaven  to  wttncas  the  purity  oT  their  conduct,  remon- 
strated against  the  tyranhy  which  doomed  them  to  puniah- 
ment,  and  invoked  the  lairs  tmiTersall^  prevalent  in  Cnristian 
countries  for  the  protection  of  pilgnms  returning  from  the 
Holy  Land:  their  complaints  only  produced  fresh  orders  for 
their  more  strict  and  severe  confinement. 

The  king  of  Almun  had  a  son  named  Ardour,  much  dis- 
tinguished for  his  bodily  strength,  which  he  never  missed  an 
opportunity  of  displaying.  He  repaired  to  the  prison ;  otdoed 
the  Engli^  knights  to  be  brought  forth;  and,  accostii^ 
Richard,  asked  if  he  would  consent  to  stand  a  buffit  from  his 
hand,  on  the  condition  of  being  allowed  to  return  it  Hiis 
strange  challenge  was  accepted ;  and  the  blow  was  so  violent 
that  Richard  reeled  under  it,  but  recovered  himself;  and 
indignant  at  having  exhibited  a  proof  of  wealuiees,  which  he 
attributed  to  hunger  (for  he  had  been  debarred  fixnn  food 
since  his  arrival  in  prison),  sternly  asked  leave  to  defer  his 
vengeance  till  the  morrow.  Ardour  generously  consented, 
and  took  his  leave,  after  ordering  a  hberal  supply  of  meat 
and  wine  for  his  huiwry  antagonist.  The  English  monardi, 
having  dined  plentiMly,  passed  the  evening  in  maxing  kU 
hand  be/ore  Ihajire,  and  retired  to  rest.  Ardour  was  true  to 
his  appointment,  and,  presenting  his  &ce  to  the  blow,  fienjely 
exclaimed, 

"  Smite,  Richard,  with  all  thy  might. 

As  thou  art  a  true  knt^t! 

And,  if  ever  I  stoop  or  held, 

I  hope  never  to  bear  shield." 

But  unfortunately  his  powers  of  endurance  were  not  equal 
to  his  courage;  bis  cheek-bone  was  crushed  by  the  blow;  he 
sunk  to  the  ground,  and  instantly  expired. 

When  Has  fhtal  intelligence  was  conveyed  to  the  king  of 
Almain,  he  swooned  with  grief;  and  on  his  recovery  gave 
way  to  such  loud  and  iwnorons  lamentation,  that  the 
queen  was  slarmed  by  the  outcry,  and  hastened  to  his 
where  she  was  immediat^y  apprised  of  her  mis- 


presesce 
fortune. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


9M  XXBLY  E53LIBH   METRICA.L  BOMAITCBa. 

When  the  queen  it  imdentood. 
For  Know,  certea,  ahe  was  ni^  vrood.* 
Slic  giuhed  heneif  in  the  viiage^ 
As  a  woman  that  would  be  ni^: 
The  bee  foamed  oil  of  blood; 
She  rent  the  robe  that  she  in  stood; 
Wrung  her  bands  that  Ae  wm  bom: 
"  la  what  manner  ia  my  aon  y-lom?" 
The  king  said,  "  1 1^  thee ; 
Tbe  kni^  hers  stands,  ha  ttdd  it  ne." 

Tbe  mi  story  was  now  dreumstantially  repealed;  and  the 
Hag,  KWBkened  to  fresh  ti^nsporta  of  Airy,  gave  strict  oxdag 
thtt  tbe  priionen  should  be  closely  fettered,  and  debarred 
from  M  food  till  the  day  of  trinl,  when  he  hoped  that  the  life 
of  Richard  would  be  sacrificed  to  bis  vengeance.  But  Fro- 
tithsnce  had  decreed  that  hii  obstinate  iujustics  shoidd  cc», 
timia  to  involve  him  in  fresh  calamity. 

Bit  daughter  Margery,  a  princess  of  uaconuuoo  beauty, 
luippeued  to  resemble  her  brotiier  Ardour  in  deeision  uid  inu 
yetuositj  of  character.  Curious  to  behold  the  illustrious 
piMDner,  she  repaired,  with  three  of  her  maidens,  to  the  dun- 
nOB,  and  iHdered  that  the  English  palmers  should  be  brought 
Mm  her.     Tlw  jailor  obeyed; 

Forth  he  iettc'  Richard  onoa-right. 
,     ,  Fair  he  grctta'  diat  lady  bright; 

And  said  to  her  with  heart  free, 
"  What  is  thy  will,  lady,  with  me?" 

When  she  saw  him  with  eyen  twa, 

Her  love  she  cast  upon  him  tho: 

And  said,  '*  Richard!  save  God  above. 

Of  all  tiling  most  I  thee  love!" 
"  AlasI"  he  said  in  that  stound, 
"  With  wrong  am  I  brought  to  ground! 

What  might  my  love  do  to  thee  ? 

A  poor  prieooer,  aa  thou  may  see; 

This  ia  that  other  day  y-gune. 

That  meat  ne  drink  ne  had  I  none!" 

Hie  lady  had  of  him  pite. 

'■■■         »Mrf.  iFetdied.  ■Gteeled. 


L^  Cookie 


siciUKD  csua  BE  uos.  395 

Uer  igity  indeed  was  moat  exteaUTC  Not  satisfied  widi 
onifW"^  uat  tlie  three  victims  of  her  bther's  crudty  should 
ba  abnadtxntly  supplied  vritli  all  aecessaries,  aha  enjoined  the 
jailor  to  bring  Richard  every  evening  to  her  chtunbet  in 
tlV'  diiffuise  of  a  SQuire.  The  cconphuiuit  c£cer  feithftilly 
obrved  her  inabuctioaa,  and  Biohard  was  left  with  the  beoH- 
tifiil  Uaigary,  to  meditats  on.  the  ainguhui^  of  his  destiny; 
.niiieh,  after  condocting  him  safely  through  all  the  perils  of 
the  Holy  Land,  had  consigned  liim  to  a  dnogeon  for  ne^aet- 
ing  to  ofiar  apiece  o£  roasted  goose  to  a  minstrel;  and  hod 
now  transported  him  ftom  his  dungeon  into  tiie  arms  of  a 
princess,  to  whose  unctions  hs  was  unooDsoious  of  having 
any  claim,  except  that  of  killing  her  hnither  by  a  great  blow 
on  the  cheek-bone. 

As  the  secret  of  this  amour  had  only  been  omfided  to  three 
maidens  and  a  jailor,  Iilai^ery  felt  no  apprehension  of  a  dis- 
covery ;  but  a  w«ek  had  scarcely  elapsed  when  Richard,  on 
learing  the  apartment  of  his  mistresa,  was  racognised  by  a 
knight,  who  immediately  cooveyed  the  intelligence  to  the' 
Idng.     Ihe  offended  monarch  now  sent  in  haste  for  his  peat 


Earls,  barons,  and  wise  clerks. 
To  tell  of  these  woeful  werks—  , 
and  explaining  to  them  his  reasons  for  desiring  the  death  of 
IQ^iard,  requesting  them,  if  possible,  to  set  aside  the  general 
law  of  Europe  by  which  the  persons  of  kings  were  declared  in- 
violable, and  to  order  the  immediate  punishment  of  the  traitmr. 
"Die  council  took  the  matter  into  their  serious  consideration, 
debataog  during  three  days,  and  concluded  by  declarii^  them' 
selves  incompetent  to  pass  judgment:  but  one  of  them  com- 
lended  to    "      '  ' 


plaisantly  recommendea  to  the  king  a  certain  judge  named 
Sir  Eldrys,  whose  ingenuity  in  condemning  prisoners  was 
thought  to  be  unparalleled,  and  who  would  probably  suggest 
to  his  majesty  the  means  of  vengeance. 

Sir  Eldrys,  recollecting  that  he  had  seen  in  the  royal 
menagerie  a  lion  of  prodigious  size  and  fierceness,  advisod 
diat  the  Hniiniil  should  be  kept  during  some  days  without 
&od,  and  then  introduced  to  the  prisoner,  whom  he  would  be 
▼ery  likely  to  devour;  so  that  his  mmesty,  who  could  not  be 
suspected  of  a  secret  intelligence  with  the  lion,  would  obtmn 
the  gratification  of  his  just  rev^ige,  without  having  infringed 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


F  ZXaUlK  KBTBICAl  BOKAJICBS. 


d>e  kw,  bf  p«witig  amtanee  on  k  free  t 

mgn.    Inia  eqiduble  project  was  of  eonne  adopted  by  the 

kii^;  aad  j-™^-''*  oiden  were  iasned  for  eanyii^  h  inl 


Hargery,  who  had  her  niiea  in  the  ooimcQ.  being  ^mriaed 
of  what  had  paaaed,  instaiiUv  aeat  for  her  lover;  warned  him 
of  hi*  danger;  propemed  to  him  the  means  of  e*cape  fhtm  her 
btber'i  tenitoriea;    and  ofieied  to  aooompMny  bim  in  hit 

Witii  mid  and  nlrer,  and  great  ticaote. 

Enough  to  have  for  erermore. 
*  .Sidiard  aaid,  "  I  nndentaiid 

Ibat  were  again  the  law  of  land, 

AwaT  to  wend  withcmton  leave: 

The  king  nc  will  I  nought  ao  griere. 

Of  the  lion  ne  give  I  nought; 

Him  to  day  now  have  I  toougbt. 

By  prime,'  on  the  third  day, 

I  give  thee  hia  heart  to  prey." 
He  dien  directed  her  to  r^air  to  the  priaon,  with  fbrty 
handkerGhie&  of  white  silk,  on  Uie  evening  before  the  combat; 
to  order  her  supper  in  bis  celt;  to  invite  his  two  frienda  and 
the  jailor  to  the  entertainment,  and  afterwarda  to  paas  the 
n^ht  with  him :  and  the  princess,  without  staying  to  inqtnre 
how  tar  this  conduct  was  compatible  with  that  scmpidons 
regard  for  her  fether's  peace  of  mind  by  which  Richard  pro- 
fessed to  be  actuated,  punctually  obeyed  alt  his  directions. 

In  the  morning,  the  tender  Margery,  ever  tremblinK  for  her 
lover's  safiety,  and  always  fearless  for  her  own,  was  with  great 
difficulty  persuaded  to  tear  hereelf  from  the  priBon :  but 
having  at  length  returned  to  her  apartment,  Richard  bound 
round  his  arm  the  sillfen  hsjidkerclucfs,  and,  recommending 
himself  to  God,  calmly  awaited  the  arrivBl  of  the  lion. 

The  animal,  attended  by  two  keepers,  and  followed  by  the 
jaflor,  was  then  led  in ;  and,  as  soon  as  he  wos  loosed,  sprang 
ibrwards  to  seize  his  prey.  Richard,  starting  aside,  evaded 
the  attack,  and  at  the  some  time  gave  the  monster  sui^  a 
blow  on  the  breast  with  his  fist  as  nearly  felled  him  to  the 
ground.    Ibe  lion,  taahing  himself  with  bis  tail,  and  extend- 

■  TUe  fint  qwrt«r  of  the  sitifleU  dtf. 

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StCai30  CKBCB  DE  ttOK.  297 

ing  bie  dreadful  paws,  now  uttered  a  most  hideoua  roar,  and 
prepared  for  a  more  violent  ananlt;  but  tiie  hero,  seizing  his 
oppoitimi^  when  the  monster's  jaws  were  extended,  Huddcnly 
darted  on  nim,  drore  his  arm  down  the  throat,  and,  grasping 
the  heart,  forcibly  tore  it  out  through  the  mouth  together 
with  a  part  of  tne  entrails.  Then,  after  piously  returning 
thanks  to  Heaven  for  his  miraculous  victory,  he  snatched  up 
the  bleeding  heart,  and  without  meeting  with  any  obetacle, 
marched  with  his  trophy  into  the  great  bill  of  the  palace. 

The  king  at  meat  sat  on  dea. 

With  d^es  and  eorls  proud  in  press. 

The  saleT*  on  the  table  stood : 

Hichard  pressed  out  all  the  blood, 

And  wet  the  heart  in  the  salt; 

(The  king  and  all  hia  men  behalt,) 

Withonten  bread  the  heart  he  ate. 

The  Idng  wonder' d,  and  said  skeet  :* 
"Y-wis,  as  I  understand  can, 

This  is  a  devil,  and  no  man. 

That  has  my  stroi^;  lion  y-dawe. 

The  heart  out  of  hu  body  drawe. 

And  has  it  ea^  with  good  will) 

He  may  be  called,  by  right  skill. 

King  y-christened  of  most  renown, 

Stnmg  Kichard  Cccur  do  Lion!" 
The  dtsappointtnent  of  his  hopes  of  vengeance  afflicted  the 
king  of  Almain  even  beyond  the  loss  of  his  son  and  the  dis- 
grace of  his  daughter;  but  as  it  was  no  longer  possible  to 
detain  a  prisoner  who  seemed  to  enjoy  the  particular  fovonr 
of  Providence,  he  determined  to  exact,  for  his  release,  a  most 
exorbitant  ransom.  This  was  no  less  than  the  half  of  all  the 
church  plate  contained  in  Richard's  dominions:  and  as  he 
deemed  it  impossible  for  any  sovereign  to  levy  a  tribute  of 
titia  nature,  he  was  much  surprised  when  the  hard  conditions 
were  accepted  without  hesitation.  Richard  only  asked  for  a 
derk  who  should  undertake  to  write  a  letter  to  his  chancellor 
aod  the  two  archbishops,  and  for  a  trusty  messenger  who 
should  convey  it  to  England.  His  orders  were  received  with 
the  utmost  suboisaiou,  and  executed  with  punctuality;  and 

>  5tlt.i«elltr;  laliirt,  Fr.  *  Immedialet;,  qnicV);. 

D,j„..;^L,Coo^|i: 


tcariaf  the 
e  priwmaB,  lephed, 
"  '—  -I  give  diem  leave; 
I  He  shaD  them  no  more  grieve." 
*  Be  took  hia  dai^rter  by  the  hand, 

Jkod  bade  her  swithe  devoid  his  land. 

The  queen  saw  what  shonld  Ml ; 

Her  daughter  she  gan  to  her  chamber  call, 

And  said,  "Thou  ehalt  dwell  with  me. 

Till  King  Richard  send  after  thee, 

Aa  a  king  does  after  his  queen ; 

So  E  rede  that  it  sfaall  bene." 

Sfaigery,  therefore,  being  vmable  to  withstand  the  reasons 
and  authority  of  her  mother,  took  a  moumfol  leave  of  Richaid, 
irbo,  we  hope,  was  equally  afibcted  at  this  sepontion  from  his 


The  English  monarch  and  his  two  cnntpanionB  were  received 
with  transports  of  joy,  and  the  fiist  lux  luuuths  which  fallowed 
their  arrival  preaented  one  constant  scene  of  festivity.  At 
dte  end  of  this  time  Bichard  sommoDed  a  parliament,  to 
which  he  invited  not  only  his  nobihty  and  clei^,  bat  also 
deputies  from  all  the  towns  and  representatives  of  all  the 
freeholds  in  his  dominions,  for  the  purpose  of  oommunicadng 
and  recommending  to  them  a  bull  which  he  had  received  from 
Pope  Urban.  He  stated  to  them  that  the  whole  countay  of 
Surry  (Syria),  and  nU  which  had  been  gained  in  formei  cru- 
sades, was  now  betrayed  to  the  Samceus  by  two  renegades, 
.the  Earl  Joyce,  and  the  Marquis  of  Montfernmdi  that  Hilon, 
the  son  and  snceesMr  of  Ewd  Baldwin,  was  expelled;  that 
the  Christian  plgrims  wtxe  jnevented  from  visiting  the  Holy 
I^nd;  that  the  pope  had  therefore  recommended  a  gcnend 
cnuade  against  Uie  infidels ;  that  the  king  cd  France  and  the 
emperor  of  Germany,  with  all  their  vassals,  had  already 
ob^ed  the  summons;  and  that  he  was  resolved  to  fallow  their 
.enmple,  and  hoped  that  his  piety  would  he  scccmded  by  that 
.of  his  feithfiil  subjects. 

Bichard's  exhortation  was  completely  succesafiil;  the  as- 
■embly  was  unanimous  in  promising  their  assistance ;  and  he 
was  soon  enabled  to  equip  a  formidable  navy  of  two  hundred 
luge  ships,  kditi  with  troops,  stores,  ami  milituy  engines. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


BICEUtD  DOniB  Dl  UOK.  399 

Attongrt  tike  instnuBoitv  of  o&ttce  Utile  ImomL  to  modorn 
mxSiro  irere  Ata-A^n*,  which  were  bo  umncrtnia  ns  to  otxwpf 
M  kflB  tluui  thirteen  veMela.  The  fleet  being  usembled,  the 
king  gKV»  hi>  iaMtmetimm  ta  -Buster  Ahun  Trenchemer,  die 
adimral,  that  he  should  protect,  to  the  utmost  of  bis  power, 
the  peisons  and  proper^  of  all  Cbnstiaos;  that  he  sbould 
give  no  quarter  to  the  Saracena;  and  Uiat  he  slutnld  proceed 
with  all  possible  dispatch  to  MaraeiUes,  whare  he  wo^d  wait 
die  amTal  of  the  land-forces. 

"  For  I,  and  my  knights  of  main. 

Will  hastil}^  wend  thrnngfa  Almain, 

To  speak  with  Modard  the  king; 

To  wetc  why,  and  Ibr  what  thing. 

That  he  me  ia  prison  held. 

Btit  he  my  treasure  again  yield. 

That  he  of  me  tocA  with  faladtede, 

I  shalt  qniten  him  his  meed!" 

As  the  various  objects  which  he  bad  in  view  could  not  but 
occasion  some  delay,  Richard  dispatched  in  tiie  first  instance, 
Baldwin,  archbishop  of  Canterbirry,  with  s  part  of  his  anny, 
with  orders  to  take  the  rente  of  Brindisi  and  Constantinople,' 
and  to  join,  if  possible,  tlie  Christiau  powers  in  Palestme. 
He  then  provided  the  necessary  measures  for  securing  the 
tranquillity  of  his  dominions  during  his  absence;  appointed 
the  chancellor  archbishop  of  York  his  immediate  represen- 
tative ;  caused  the  officers  of  josticc  to  take  the  oalbB  of  alle- 
giance to  that  prelate;  and  having  received  the  sacrament, 
and  requested  the  [nayers  of  hia  subjects  for  tlie  success  of  the 
expedition,  passed  witb  one  hiudred  and  twenty  thousand 
men  into  Flanders. 

Thia  vast  army  wa»  formed  into  three  divinons,  one  of 
which  was  eonunanded  by  Sir  FnUt  Doylfff,  another  by  Sir 
Thcnnaa  de  Moulton ;  and  llie  third  by  Richard  in  person. 
The  strictest  orders  were  inucd  that  all  the  articles  wanted  by 
tbe  army  ^ould  be  fiurly  purchased;  and,  for  the  better  pre- 
IwUJtHi  of  plunder  and  Uie  greater  ease  of  tha  countries 
Aroi^h  which  diey  passed,  the  three  divisions  were  directed 
to  march  at  the  distance  of  ten  miles  asunder,  the  king  taking 
charge  of  the  centre.  Ia  this  order  he  arrived  at  Colagne,  a 
oltr  bclooging  ta  his  enemy,  &b  inhabitaitta  af .  which  had 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


300  Z1KL1   SKOLISR   HXTBICAI.  BOIUITOSS. 

beoi  enjouMct  bv  th«r  aor^vigii  not  to  fbmiah  at  any  mice  a 
nngle  article  of  food  to  the  invaden.     Ricliard,  nnwiUing  to 
nae  violence,  determined  that  his  troops  ebonld  be  fed  widi 
mch  prorisions  as  could  be  supplied  from  his  own  '"■g«""« 
"Now,  etewttrd,  I  wame  thee. 
Buy  UB  resscl'  great  plenty. 
Dishes,  cuppes,  and  sancen, 
Bowls,  trays,  and  platten, 
Vats,  tuns,  and  costret ;' 
Maketh  our  meat  without«n  let, 
"Whether  ye  will  seeth  or  brede.' 
And  the  poor  men  all,  so  Ood  you  apede. 
That  ye  find  in  the  town, 
Hiat  ihey  come  at  my  summoim." 
He  also  invited  the  mayor  to  dinner;  and,  inquiring  after 
the  king,  was  informed  that  he  was  then  at  a  place  called 
Gomery,  together  witii  his  queen  and  the  fiur  Maigeiy,  frcnn 
whom  some  tidii^  might  be  soon  expected. 
Then,  as  it  was  law  of  land, 
A  messenger  there  com  ridand 
tJpon  a  Hteed  white  so  milk; 
His  trappings  were  of  tuely*  ulk, 
With  five  hundred  bells  ringand. 
Well  &ir  of  sight  I  understwid. 
Doiim  off  his  steed  he  'light. 
And  grctte  King  Richard  i^,  I  plight. 
"The  lung's  daughter,  that  is  so  fi«e, 
She  greets  thee  well  by  mc ; 
With  an  hundred  knights,  and  mo. 
She  comes,  ere  you  to  bed  go." 
Bichord.  fiill  of  confidence  in  the  &ir  Margery's  punctuality, 
rewarded  the  messenger  for  his  good  news  with  the  present  of 
a  cloth  of  gold,  and  was  soon  gratified  by  the  arrival  of  his 
mistress.     In  the  morning,  the  lovctB  again  parted,  and  the 
army  proceeded  on  its  march  to  a  citv  called  MarburatU, 
where  they  fbmid  a  renewal  of  their  difficulties  with  respect 
to  provisiona. 

>  Vaifdlt,  Fr.  (U  the  •ppurtniaee*  of  the  taUe. 

*  The  tune  u  teitrttti  k  drinkinf-Towl.  *  B<nl  or  roMt. 

*  Red  or  Kulet.     See  HaUiveU'i  Dietiaiuu7,  p.  894. 


JLyCOOj^lC 


BICHABD  CtSrS  DE  LIOIT.  801 

Bis  mershal  swithe  com  him  to; 
"Sire,"  he  said,  "how  Bhall  we  do? 

Swilk  fowailo '  as  we  bought  yesterday 

For  no  eatel'  get  I  nc  may!" 

Richard  answered  with  heart  free, 
"  Of  fruit  here  is  great  plenty, 

Figgcs,  raisins  in  frayel,* 

And  nuts  may  sen'en  us  full  well. 

And  wax  some-deal  cast  thereto; 

Tallow  and  grease  menge'  also; 

And  thus  ye  may  our  meat  make, 

Sith  ye  may  none  other  take." 
King  Uodard,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  Richard's  in- 
violahlc  attachment  to  his  word,  and  his  respect  for  the  laws 
and  customs  of  foreign  countries,  but  was  totally  ignorant  of 
hie  reeoui-ces  in  the  art  of  cookciy.  had  hoped  that  the  pre- 
cantdons  he  had  taken  in  stopping  the  supply  of  the  markets 
would  in&llibly  arrest  the  progress  of  the  English  army,  and 
had  neglected  to  adopt  any  further  measures  far  his  safety. 
He  th«<efore  learnt  with  astonishment  and  dismay  that  Ms 
enemy  was  arrived  at  CarpmlTot,  and  had  taken  his  lodging 
at  the  Tery  inn  which,  a  few  years  before,  had  exhibited  the 
&tal  adventure  of  the  roasted  goose.  No  resource  now  re- 
mained but  to  implore  the  mediation  of  his  daughter;  and  the 
good-natured  Mai^ry  readily  undertook  to  procure  the  for- 
giveness of  Richard,  in  return  for  her  fiither's  absolute  and 
unconditional  submisuoo.  Ihe  conqueror  required  nothing 
more  than  the  restoration  of  the  ransom  so  unjustly  extorted 
from  hi'm ;  and  these  teims  being  thankfully  accepted,  the  two 
monarchs  exchanged  the  kiss  of  peace,  and  their  reconciliation 
was  followed,  as  usual,  by  a  magnificent  entertainment. 

The  enjoyment  of  perfect  security  oiler  the  horrible  fright 
which  he  had  lately  experienced,  aided  perhaps  by  the  e&ct 
of  a  plentiAil  dinner,  produced  in  Modard  such  a  paroxysm  of 
valour,  that,  on  Richard's  requesting  the  loon  of  o  hundred 
blights  to  join  the  crusade,  he  proposed  to  take  the  cross  in  ■ 
perscm,  and  to  contribute  his  own  heroism  to  the  success  <^ 
the  expedition:  and  bis  guest  having  declined  to  accept  an 
oSei  attended  with  so  much  risk  to  his  sacred  person,  he  in- 
t  Fnal,  L  b.  prorUoai.  '  Moaaj.  '  Freiim,  Fr.  the  baikMi  lb 

lAldt^  and  nUu  are  pftcked.  *Hix. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


3M  EABLT  SNOLISH    METKTGU.  XOXUICES. 

mated  on  proving  his  generosity,  sot  only  by  die  magnificent 
equipment  of  a  hundred  knights,  but  by  &  tax&er  present  of 
inestimable  value : 

Another  thing  I  ihall  fbee  g^ve. 

That  may  thee  help  while  that  dun  lire. 

Two  riche  rings  of  gtdd; 

The  stones  therein  be  fidl  bold. 

Hence,  to  the  land  of  Ind, 

Better  than  they  ehalt  then  nrae  find. 

For,  ^riuMo  hath  that  one  stone. 

Water  ne  shall  him  drench  none. 

That  other  stone  i^oso  that  bear, 

Fire  ne  shall  him  never  den.'- ' 
Itie  rings,  of  coone,  were  thankftilly  accepted ;  and  Kidiard, 
after  taking  an  affectionate  leare  of  Modard  and  of  the  tender 
Hargery,  departed  with  his  army  to  Marseilles. 

Here  he  foond  his  fleet  in  readiness ;  and,  embarking  yriOi 
a  &ir  wind,  arriTed,  after  a  short  voyage,  at  Messina,  where 
he  disembarked  his  troops,  and  found  the  king  of  Frutce  en- 
camped with  his  fbroes.  Tlie  two  monarchs  embraced  witk 
mnbial  expresaions  of  regard,  and  even  contracted  the  en- 
gagement of  brotheiiiood  in  arms ;  but  I%ilip,  already  jealons 
of  a  competitor  by  whom  he  was  &r  surpassed  in  military 
gjoty,  meditated  treachery.  He  wrote  to  Tancred,  then  king 
of  Apulia,  to  insinuate  that  Richard,  nnder  pretence  of  joining 
tlte  emsade.  was  contriving  an  attack  upon  his  dominions; 
and  though  Tancred,  ha-nng  communicated  this  letter  to  his 
81X1  R(^;er,  was  persuaded  by  him  to  have  an  interview  wifii 
Bichard,  in  wfaii^  his  suspicions  were  finally  removed,  -die ' 
fiery  temper  of  the  English  monarch,  who  was  highly  indig- 
nant at  such  an  unjust  charge,  was  scarcely  resbained  from 
producing  the  rupture  which  it  hod  been  I^titip's  object  to 
msore.  At  length  the  French  king's  treachery  being  made 
nanileat,  Tanoed  and  Kicbard  parted  with  mutual  expi«e- 
noDB  of  esteem. 

Ibe  Rnglidi  army  was  encan^>ed  withoat  At  wbDs  of  Mea. 
rina.  The  French  took  up  their  quarters  in  dte  torwn,  and, 
art&lly  awakening  the  sospicion  of  the  inhabitants  (whom  Ae 
_  ..         ..  «  .—     ,  t. «.  Greeks),  at  length  incited  tiiom,  by 

Hart.    From  Qie  Ah^o-Shm. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


UOBAJU)   C<E17B  SX  LIOK.  888' 

^  pTomiBe  of  proteclioD,  to  frequoit  arts  of  hoatility  agMMt ' 
^B  English.  £udia«d,  after  compbining  to  Philip,  who  gxn 
him  no  other  answer  than  that  he  was  at  libert]'  to  seek  mdL 
lodrees  as  he  tiiou^t  fit,  determined  on  levonge.  While  he 
yna  eating  his  Camstmaa  dinner,  he  received  ii^imation  tbat 
the  wicked  Grifibna  bad  renewed  their  inmilta ;  aod  kicking 
down  the  table  wiHi  his  foot,  a  practice  by  whiiJi  he  nBnaUr 
eeqncaaed  his  dindeasure,  gave  onien  for  an  imriwi^lffli^.  attwE 
on  tiie  town,  and  put  himself  at  the  head  of  hia  troopo.  A. 
ahort  but  Bercre  conflict  ensued,  in  which  the  eari  of  Salisbiin 
acquired  the  distingoishcd  title  of  L4n)gne-eq>ie.  Buttho^pk 
the  inhabitants  were  driven  back,  the  town  was  too  straw  to 
he  taken  by  such  a  sumnutiy  prooess.  Richard,  detenninsd 
to  punish  the  Griffons,  summoned  all  his  oSoms,  ordered  hia 
fleet  to  co-operate  with  the  land  forces,  and  directed  his  m«t 
formidable  engines  of  war  to  be  direded  "ga™"*-  tfae  iraHn 
"  I  hare  a  caatel,  I  andentcnd. 

Is  made  of  tinnier  of  Engiond, 

With  six  stages  full  of  toorelLes,' 

Well  flouriidied  with  comeUes/ 

Therein  I  and  many  a  knight 

Against  the  French  shall  take  the  fight ; 

That  caatel  shall  have  a  sorry  nom ; 

It  shall  be  bight  the  Mate-Griffon." 
The  assatUt  was  inesiatible:  under  a  general  dischnrge  of 
urowB  and  guartilM,  one  of  the  gates  was  ioroed  by  RicJmd 
in  Borscm;  w  town  was  for  a  short  time  given  up  to  pillm ; 
ana  ils  total  destniction  was  only  averted  by  uie  homuest 
aubmiwiona  on  the  part  of  Philip,  and  by  the  interccuioa  of 
■n  archbishop.  The  aulhor  however  inibrms  us  that  two 
French  justices,  called  Mai^aryte  and  Sir  Hnrii  Impe^te, 
took  an  opportonity,  during  the  parley,  of  reviling  fiichaid) 
whom  they  eaUed  a  taj/lard;  and  that  the  i^oleric  monnrch 
instantly  clove  the  skull  of  tiie  first,  and  tieariy  IdUsd  tke^ 
■ecood ;  afier  which  he  calmly  returned  to  his  camp. 

Philip  lefl  Messina  in  the  month  of  March,  and  I 
prrataied  to-fidlovhim  to  Acres  at  flie  end  of  Lent:  bnt  ft 
flf  his  diipe,  principally  loaded  with  treasure,  were  v 
(n  ifae  OMst  cf  Oj^raai  And  the  kin^  amving  throe  di^ 


J  L,  Google 


304  KABLT    XXQUBK   XETSICAI.    SOMXKCU. 

aftenwdB,  was  mfcnncd  that  tlie  9mptror  of  the  iahiid  had 
nnjmtiy  seized  «11  the  tKunrc,  and  committed  the  ovwb  i^ 
his  ships  to  priaoD.  On  this  intdligrace  h^seot  three  of  his 
barons  with  >  moet  haogbty  message,  to  demand  the  instut 
T«fltitutioa  of  men  and  money,  and  to  denounce  the  most  sig' 
nal  vengeance  if  the  compliance  with  his  demsnda  should  be 
detared  for  a  momrat.  The  emperor,  scarcelj  less  dioleric 
than  Richard  himself,  began  tus  reply  br  throwing  a  knife  at 
^a  Bobeit  TnmhanL,  which  he  with  some  difficult  avoided, 
and  concluded  it  by  cwdeiing  titem  to  cany  to  "  their  tajled 
Id^"  his  refiisal  mid  defiance. 

Ine  emperor's  steward,  who  was  [Hvsent  at  the  audience, 
was  of  opinion  that  this  mode  of  treatjog  amhosadon  was 
highly  indecoTons ;  and,  thoogh  pmfaaUy  well  aajDiunted  with 
the  violence  cf  his  master's  temper,  very  ongtnrdedly  ven- 
taxed  to  express  his  dis^probation.  The  moi^ivh,  forcing  a 
smile,  while  his  eyes  sparkled  with  rage,  made  a  ugnal  to  his 
stewwd  that  he  wished  to  commmiicate  somedun^  to  him  in 
secret;  and,  while  the  nnsnspectii^  mmiirfji-  watted  tm  his 
knees  the  expected  rcrdalion,  drew  saddenfy  a  kmfe  from  ite 
sheath,  and  cat  off  fais  nose.' 

'Die  stewaid  his  nose  hent; 

I-wys.  his  visage  was  y-shmt! 

Quickly  oot  of  the  castel  ran ; 

Leave  he  took  of  no  man; 
and  having  overtaken  the  amfaassadiws,  he  begged  that  thejr 
would  reptcsent  his  case  to  the  king,  and  induce  him  to  come 
on  shore  that  very  n^rt;  promisii^  to  ddivar  into  their 
hands  the  ke^  of  all  the  principal  farts  in  the  island;  to  aid 
tlieir  eoteipnse  vrith  a  body  of  one  hundred  kn^ts;  and  to 
king  to  Richard  the  young  and  beautiful  dai^ter  of  the  mi- 


Richard  was  playing  at  chess  widi  the  earl  of  Richmond  in 
his  galley,  when  be  nerved  all  this  good  news.  Withont 
loss  of  time,  be  gave  <KdeiB  fiir  tiw  disembarkation;  pot  on 

■  Rogv  de  HondcB  ilinost  cooGnu  tbis  uiadote. — He  vtjt,  tlist 
wUle  thi  napaor  «ai  nttiog  tt  dhuxr  tofctber  irith  hit  bwtms,  one  of 
Iheai  adriKd  Ub,  in  Ac  mms  of  ■!!,  to  nuke  peare  with  RiAud ;  where- 
liiiiii.  tin  iM|niiii.  jii^lj  iiiiniil  ■!  Ihii  iti 
«ntk  akaife.  lad  cat  al  fait  a 
•MeffforE    '     ' 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


aiCHABD  CCECB  OS  x.ioir. 


hu  anuonr ;  tooic  in  Ue  honda  Hie  fonnidable  battle-axe  which 
he  had  caiued  to  be  made  for  tbe  deatmction  of  the  Soracena; 
took  the  town  of  Lymasoar  hy  uaanlt;  broke  down  with  hia 
own  hand  the  doors  of  the  pnaon  where  his  men  were  con- 
fined ;  and  made  himself  ample  amenda,  by  the  pillage  of  the 
citicena,  for  the  loss  of  hia  treaanre. 

Thia  Bucceas  was  so  sudden,  that  tiie  emperor,  who  waa  at 
some  distance  from  the  town,  had  onlv  tune  to  collect  the 
few  tooope  which  were  within  rctich,  and  to  encamp  them  fiv 
the  ni^t,  after  sending  in  oil  directions  for  encconia,  with 
which  he  hoped  to  face  the  enemy  on  the  fi)1]owinK  day.  In 
the  mean  while  the  punctual  steward  repaired  to  Bichard  with 
the  keys,  the  hundred  kn^hta,  and  the  young  lady;  at  the 
same  time  promising  to  conduct  the  English  aimy  by  an  un- 
suspected road  into  the  midst  of  the  emperor'a  camp;  and  tbe 
king,  after  suitable  acknowledgments  tac  his  varioDS  serriceti, 

swore  by  Ood,  our  saviour, 

Hia  noee  shoiM  be  bon^t  w^  sonr. 
As  the  succeea  of  hia  enterprise  depended  solely  on  dis- 
patch, he  selected  from  bis  army  one  thousand  well-mounted 
knights,  put  himself  at  their  head,  and,  marching  rapidly  by 
moonlight  under  the  guidance  of  the  steward,  arrived  before 
day-break  so  near  the  enemy  as  to  discover  the  position  of  the 
emperor's  tent,  which  waa  very  conspicuous  from  the  rich 
sillu  of  which  it  waa  formed,  as  well  as  from  its  being  sur- 
mounted by  a  heron  of  burnished  gold.  The  invaders  being 
now  discovered,  and  the  alami  rapidly  spreading  throueh  the 
camp,  thcT  rushed  forward  towards  this  tent;  overset  oil  who 
attempted  to  oppose  tiicm;  made  a  slaughter  of  twenty  thou- 
sand Tile  GrifTona ;  hut  arrived  too  late  to  seize  the  emperor, 
who  had  made  his  escape  on  the  first  alarm.  Sut  the  bootv 
taken  in  the  field  was  immense;  the  imperial  pavilion,  which 
waa  immediately  embarked  and  carried  to  Acres  aa  a  trophy, 
was  itaelf  a  treaeurc ;  the  plate  alone  was  a  full  indenminca- 
tion  for  all  that  the  English  had  lost;  beaides  which,  Richard 
became  master  of  two  beautifal  atfcds  which  he  conaidcred  as 
invaluable,  the  celebrated  Favel  and  Lyard — 

In  the  world  was  not  their  peer; 

Dromedary,  nor  destrere,' 
)  A  wK-borte.    See  Halliirell't  Dictkmarf ,  p.  300. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


M6  KAXLT  nreusH  vbtsicju. 

atnd  nbyte,  M  c^uyl 
Tint  n*  M  nnft  MM  fiuL 
For  a  *^'-— "^  po^id*  id  gold 
Skoold  Mt  th^  Me  be  Hid, 

Ibe  emperor  now  found,  on  aenrwing  the  emta  tf  the 
k^  twHiif)  fimr  ]ioim,^iut,hf  eattiaeatsUa  Mewaid'a  noae. 
b  1h^  lost  his  daa^iter,  hU  capitil,  ku  any.  end  hw  taH»- 
MM^  Md  tct;  wisely  ccadudad  liwt  he  coidd  om^  b^*  *[> 
ana  «4at  iSBUtined  odf  liia  territory  1^  nttpondrtiotad  iiiliMta 
■OB.  Ha  llwi^fniTi  arnt  mi  rmhniij  tn  thr  ^"g'"^'  ™"*'^t^. 
oAriac  to  beoome  hia  timbI  and  do  him  homage,  en  tlae  aafe 
uaiiitmn  of  being  left  ia  peaoe  and  qoiet;  and  BKhard,  eoa- 
^iffi'ng:  thi^  tlia  featoratioa  of  the  atewaid's  &ee  waa  qaite 
hapriiMff,  giaeiottdy  oondeaoended  to  accept  the  tenia,  after 
te  ftdl  natitttlion  <rf  the  piUage  cmmnitted  on  hta  aUpa. 
Aoootdingly  the  emperor,  pi^cly  falling  on  his  knees  before 
tiw  king,  embraced  nis  &et,  humbly  asked  for  mercy,  and  re- 
oeind  aaaorancea  of  fiiture  protection.  The  remainder  of  the 
dw  was  dedicated  to  fcatiTitr,  and  die  vaaml  emperor  wa« 
iMJiifii  iriiitlji  entertained  at  the  table  of  hie  sovereign.  But, 
on^bietum  to  bia  palace,  it  -unfbrtunately  occurred  to  hiiiL, 
that  if  his  former  violence  had  made  him  hateful,  bia  late 
iBemKBS  and  cowardice  had  rendered  him  contemptible :  he 
therefore  once  more  changed  his  mind,  and,  regardleaa  of  the 
obA*  which  be  had  ju*t  token,  Bummoned  bis  barona,  and  re- 
meated  tlieir  assistance  to  rescue  bis  dominions  from  the  in- 
ability of  being  subject  to  a  fbrei^  tyrant  This  act  of 
trear^ery  waa  immecuatcly  communicated  to  tbc  conqueror, 
by  whom  the  emperor,  after  being  abandoned  bv  his  subjects, 
was  BOW  cordcred  into  irons,  and  transported  on  board  a  galley 
W  the  purpose  of  being  conve^^  as  a  prisoner  to  Acres. 

Richard  now  prepared  for  bis  grand  expedition,  and,  havii^ 
OD^Ued  the  goTemment  of  Cyprus  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester, 
aet  Mil  for  Syria  with  a  fleet  of  two  hundred  transports  under 
(Mtfoy  of  fifteen  well-anned  galleys.  For  the  first  ten  days 
tte  mather  was  perfoctly  bvourable ;  but  on  the  eleventh 
they  met  with  a  violent  storm,  during  which  it  was  difficult 
to  prerent  the  dispenioa  of  tbe  armament.  At  length  the 
aky  deared,  and  they  djaeorered  in  fte  offing  a  drvtnmmd,  or 
■h^i  of  burtkea  of  vaat  aiae,  aad  iMden  neany  to  the  water's 


j„._L,  Cookie 


UCHAK&  OaVB  U  LIOK.  30? 

edge.  Alain  Trencheinsr  «aa  diapatcfaed,  in  a  light  vessel,  to 
inquire  whither  she  wan  bound,  \t^ee  property  she  was,  iind 
what  woB  her  coigo^  and  wns  answered  byalaatntr  (an  ioter- 
preter)  that  she  came  from  Apulia,  was  laden  with  provisioiia 
for  the  use  of  the  French  army,  and  was  bound  to  Acres. 
But  Alain,  pereeiTing  oolj  one  man  on  deck  who  answered 
his  questions,  insisted  on  seeing  the  rest  of  the  crew,  whom 
he  anapected  to  be  Soncent ;  and  after  »  fev  erasions  on  the 
port  of  the  latimer,  the  whole  ship's  cenq)aBy  suddenly  came 
VOBD  deck,  and  answered  him  by  a  general  shout  of  defiance. 
Auia  haatily  returned  with  this  report  to  the  king ;  who, 
unng  himself  with  all  expedition,  threw  himself  into  a  gal- 
1^  KHiL  ordered  his  rowen  to  make  ercry  possible  exertion. 

**  Roweth  on  fast!  Who  that  is  feint. 

In  eril  water  may  he  be  dreynt ! " 

They  rowed  hard!,  and  sung  thereto 

With  hevelow  and  rumbeloia. 
lUehard'i  impotiaiee  being  thus  seoonded  by  the  zeal  of  hu 
meM,  the  gnltey  flew  like  an  arrow  from  a  cross-bow ;  and 
Ahia.  steered  the  vessel  with  sach  skill,  tJffit,  encountering 
tka  it«n  of  the  dromonnd,  it  cat  off  a  consideTttble  port  of  her 
ipMtev.  The  king  made  every  effi>rt  to  board ;  bat  the  deck 
«■■  earered  with  well-armed  Saracens ;  and  othen  from  the 
"tip  eaatles"  assaolled  the  galley  with  such  showers  of  heavy 
■tenea,  that  Richard  was  in  the  most  imminent  danger.  At 
kagth,  seven  more  gnlleya  being  detached  to  his  assistance, 
and  the  enemies  attacked  in  every  direction,  he  sprang  on 
baud  of  die  dromonnd,  and,  setting  his  bock  against  the 
mast,  clove  many  of  the  Saracens  to  the  middle,  cut  off  the 
hsad»  of  others,  and  ampntsited  arms  aad  legs  in  every  direc- 
tM ;  tin  the  unbelievers,  who  at  firat  coasted  of  sixteen 
d  men,  were  redoced  to  thnrty. 

The  king  ibimd  in  the  dromoni^,  aaiu  bil, 

Kckle  store,  aad  great  vitail, 

■any  barrels  flill  of  fire-gregeys ;' 

Aai  many  thousand  bow  Turkeis; 

Booked  arrows,  and  quarelles. 

Thej  found  t^ere  full  many  barrels 

X  2 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


306  KABLT    XITOLIBH    UETBICAL    KOlCjUTOZI. 

Of  wlmt,  and  wine  greftt  plenty ; 

Gold  and  silver,  and  ilke  ciuntey. 

Of  treasure  he  liad  not  balf  the  moimd 

That  in  the  dromound  was  ^-fonnd, 

For  it  drowned  in  the  flood. 

Ere  half  uncharged  were  that  good. 

.  After  this  important  captore,  which  greatly  Dcmtribnted  to 
decide  the  fiite  of  Acres,  the  English  fleet  proceeded  on  their 
voyage  to  ^ria;  but  were  met  off  the  coast  by  a  spy,  1^0 
reposed  that  the  harbour  had  lately  been  rendered  innccea- 
aible,  by  means  of  a  vast  chain  of  iron  which  the  Saracezis  had 
Rtretched  across  the  cnbance.  Richard  immediately  resolved 
to  begin  his  career  of  glory  by  overcoming  this  unexpected 
obstacle.  Selecting  the  largest  and  strongest  galley  in  the 
fleet,  he  GUed  it  with  his  (rtoutest  rowers ;  took  his  station  on 
Ae  bows  of  the  vessel,  which  was  urged  by  the  nnited  force 
of  sails  and  oars ;  ordered  Trenchemer  to  direct  it  against  the 
centre  of  the  chain;  and,  watching  the  moment  of  its  utmost 
eitraiBion,  struck  it  so  violently  with  his  battle-axe  that  it 
gave  way,  and  yielded  a  passage  to  the  whole  fleet,  iriiich 
passed  into  ^e  harbour  anudst  the  acclamations  of  the  sailorB. 
The  first  night  of  their  arrival  was  passed  in  rejoicings. 
Wine,  piment,  and  clar^,  were  circolated  in  abundance; 
trumpets,  tabours,  and  Saracen  horns  sounded  continually; 
wild  fire  was  thrown  up  into  the  sky ;  Greek  fire  scattered 
over  the  sea ;  various  iUumioations  were  exhibited ;  and  the 
mangonels  and  other  military  engines,  among  which  waa  a 
very  eitraordinaiy  miid-mill,  were  displayed  for  the  purpose 
of  striking  terror  into  the  enemy. 

On  the  following  morning  Richard  received  the  congratn- 
lations  of  the  king  of  France,  of  the  Emperor,  and  of  all  the 
Christian  princes  assembled  at  the  si^e ;  after  which  the 
archbishop  of  Pisa  paid  him  a  private  visit  in  bis  tent,  and 
related  to  him  very  circumstantially  all  the  military  operations 
which  bod  taken  place  during  the  preceding  seven  years.  By 
this  it  (^peared  that,  the  Saracens  being  in  possession  of  aU 
tlie  strong  posts  in  the  country,  it  had  teen  necessary  for  the 
Christians  m  the  first  instance  to  fbrtiiy  their  camp;  which 
diey  did  with  great  labour,  dicing  a  vnde  and  deep  ditch, 
protected  at  intervals  by  barbuana  of  b6^  masonry:  that 


J  L,  Google 


UCHARD  C(ZUS  DE   LIOK.  300 

Snladin,  with  &  vast  army,  hod  inunediately  besieged  them  in 
this  intreDcliment :  that  the  Christians  had  made  a  bbMj,  in 
which,  after  an  obstinate  conflict,  ibey  appeared  to  have  the 
ad-vantage,  till,  a  number  of  their  knights  being  engaged  in 
the  pursuit  of  a  hone  magniSccntly  caparisoned,  the  Saracens 
turned  and  defeated  them,  with  the  loss  of  the  emperor  of 
Germany,  Earl  Janin  of  Piaijtupagne,  Earl  Ferrers  of  Eng- 
land, and  eleven  thousand  men :  that  Saladiu,  hanng  cast  Hm 
dead  bodies  into  the  reservoir  from  which  the  Christians  drew 
their  supplv  of  water,  had  occasioned  a  pestilence  in  tiieir 
camp,  whiui  carried  off  no  less  than  ibrty  thousand :  that 
twelve  hundred  of  their  best  knights  had  lost  their  lives  in  « 
naval  enterprise,  intended  to  surprise  a  vessel  laden  with 
wheat  and  other  necessaries  for  the  supply  of  the  Saracen, 
ant^ :  that  fiflieen  thousand  had  fidlen,  through  a  stratagem 
ni  me  garrison  of  Acres,  who,  affecting  to  despise  the  Chris- 
tians, had  establisl^ed  a  camp  at  some  mstance  &om  the  town, 
which  they  filled  with  articles  of  value,  and  thus  decoyed  the 
ChristianB  to  an  attack ;  but,  returning  to  the  charge  as  soon 
as  the  assailants  were  encumbered  with  the  boot^,  defeated 
them  with  great  slat^hter :  that  ailer  this  the  Christians  had 
^ain  recovered  a  temporary  superiority  by  the  arrival  of  the 
earls  of  CSiampagne  and  Brefagne  with  their  forces,  and  after- 
wards by  that  of  Baldwin  arclrtiisbop  of  Canterbury,  with  his 
nephew  Hubert  Gautcr,  tt^ther  with  Randolph  de  Olauville, 
John  the  Neol,  his  brother  Miles,  and  otEeF^ngliA  knights  j 
but  that  even  these  succours  had  barely  supplied  the  vacant 
occasioned  t^  the  inclemency  of  the  seasons,  and  by  a  dreao- 
fiil  fomine  in  which  bue^  thousand  Christjans  had  perished. 


"  Sir  Bishop,  bid  tfaou  fbr  us, 
Hat  might  me  send  sweet  Jems 
His  foee  all  to  destn^, 
lliat  they  no  min«  us  annoy!" 
King  Bichard  took  leave,  aoA  lept  tm  bi 
He  rode  lound  the  intrenchment,  and,  having  carefully  sur- 
veyed the  ground,  made  choice  of  an  eminence  near  St. 
^omas's  hospital  for  the  position  of  his   "  Mate-Orifibn." 
This  was  a  wooden  tower  of  great  magnitude,  the  fiamewoik 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


310  xuuT  XKSLisn  ncxKKUi.  soKAxcsa. 

of  iAmA  had  oceapied  dnrteen  dtips.  Firm  its  tn^  he  wis 
cmbled  to  diseoTer  all  tbe  defenocs  <rf  tbe  gnriacM;  aad 
Inpring  fixed  a  aui^oad  in  ft  pnper  diiection,  be  ordend  Ui 
muic  to  aoand  tbe  aigml  of  osnuH,  and  caused  bis  bee-biras 
to  be  tbown  bom  tbe  mangonel  amsng  the  beu^ed.  At  Ae 
snne  time  he  set  up  his  "  Robinet,"  «  man  powwful  species 
of  mangonel, -which  oontiniwd  to  dischai^  stoDOa  of  cnoniMMM 
'  '  '  !  works,  and  ioBtrected  bis  miiMm  to  dii«et 
naiit-  Coltmn,"  a  fartificattoo  irtndi  ofo- 
teetedoBeaideofdteeitf;  while,  &om  the  mmunit  of  &e3bte- 
QriffiMi,  be  watched  die  motitxts  of  the  bemeged,  and  gave  a 
vtopa  diiectioa  to  tbe  ihowera  rf  darts  which  weieii>i.(iwaiitly 
diBdwKFd  hy  bis  archen.  The  Eanccins  were  paitictdailf 
■DWiyad  bj  the  bees,  which  molested  diefB  oa  ereiy  aide. 

And  mid,  "  King  Ridaod  was  faQ  ftS, 

When  his  lliea  biten  so  wdlP" 
jjie  connison  wvs  socfa  that  axy  knew  not  on  which  noe  to 
tarn  thor  attm1io&_  Onat  nambets  waf^  vaaghtcivd  i  "^'I't* 
ti  -dte  oater  wall  was  ruined  hy  tbe  minos;  and  the  dm^er 
became  ao  paresaii^,  that  tbe  ganison  wne  emplojed  dnniv 
great  part  of  dte  ai^t  in  making  fins  in  -dte  hi^Kst  paitB  Dl 
the  town  as  signals  of  fisbna. 

gai*Att_  wLu  WIS  encamped  at  ten  mnes  matance,  name- 
diatdjr  matAtd  to  tiieir  soccoor.  His  caTaliy  was  fimned  in 
ftor  divisioae,  maiaballed  ander  daeir  re^ective  standaida. 
Tat  first  was  red|  hcarii^  three  gnroms,  and  a  bend  amrc; 
the  aeeood  giwii,  exlnhiting  a  coitnt  between  a  dngm  and 
a  Von;  ti>e  tbird  Une.  widiout  aiijr  deriee;  dK  foorlh  white, 
wiA  three  Saracens'  beads  saUe-  This  I^  was  eommanded 
bv  Sir  Saladin  in  penon,  accompanied  by  hii  nephew  Mirayn- 
Momcljn.  Tbe  Sam  tUrisioas  tt  kni^ts  or  horsemen 
amounted  to  three  bundled  and  mx  thooMnd,  and  thejr  were 
attended  hy  sixtj-  thnnnanil  ia^ubcj,  li»«Tmg  xaahes  and  bay 
in  bundUe.  fin-  tbe  purpose  of  fiuiag  up  die  ditch  of  tbe 
Qiristian  camp. 

Richard  waa  at  diis  lime  etnfiaied  to  his  tmt  In-  a  fever,  in 
consequence  of  tbe  fittigne  to  which  be  deroted  himself  in 
diat  dai^ennu  climate;  and  tbe  want  of  such  a  leader  was 
near  bemg  ftial  to  the  Christians.  But  fliilip,  thmigh  8aa> 
prised  by  tbe  Euddouwss  of  the  f"«"^,  whidi  mottced  Um 
OB  every  quarter,  nmdacted  die  ddeace  with  sodi  ability  that 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BICHAJtD  C<EI}£  I>E  XIOS.  Sll 

the  Saracens,  after  tm  obatiBkte  coidlict  in  wfaidt  many  men 
were  killed  on  both  sidea,  wrae  ultimately  oon^eHed  to  retire. 
Some  of  their  nuiDber,  wha  by  tiie  impetnosity  of  the  fint 
aaeanlt  had  penetrated  within  the  intieiidiiaenta,  were  taken 
prisoners,  and  instantly  pot  to  death. 

Hie  b^  leechcA  in  the  camp  were  vnble  ta  t0ect  the  core 
of  Bichard'fl  ague;  but  the  praytn  of  die  anoy  were  more 
snGoeeafuL  He  becuoe  eonvaleKent,  and  -the  first  symptom 
of  his  recovery  was  a  violent  longing  for  podc.  But  pork  was 
not  likely  to  be  plentiful  in  a  ooontry  whoM  iafaabitants  had 
an  abhorreoce  fi>r  swine's  fleab ;  and 

^—  though  his  men  rfenld  be  hanged, 

Tht^  ne  might,  in  th^  counbey, 

Fw  gold,  ne  silver,  ne  no  money. 

No  pork  find,  take,  ne  goL, 

That  King  JEUohard  mi^  angbt  of  est. 

An  old  knight,  witii  Ru^iaid  biding. 

When  he  heard  of  that  tiding, 

Ibat  the  kingis  wants  were  swytte, 

To  the  steward  he  qnke  privylidie. 
"  Our  lord  the  king  sore  is  aick,  i-wis, 

After  pork  he  alonged  is; 

Ye  may  none  find  to  sclle : 

No  man  be  hardy  bini  so  to  tdle! 

If  he  did,  he  might  die. 

Nowbehores  him  to  done  as  I  shall  mf, 

Tbst  he  wete  nought  of  that 

Take  a  Saracen  youne  and  fat. 

In  haste  let  the  thief  lie  slain, 

Opened,  and  his  ikin  off  flayn; 

And  sodden,  full  hastily. 

With  powder,  and  with  epiceiy. 

And  with  saffivn  of  good  ccJour. 

When  the  king  feels  thereof  savovz. 

Oat  of  ague  if  he  be  went, 

He  shall  have  thereto  good  talont.' 

When  he  has  a.good  taste,  i 

And  eaten  well  a  good  repast. 

And  supped  of  the  brewis'  a  sup, 

Slept  after,  and  swet  a  drop, 


uL,  Google 


312  E^BLT   EMOLTSH   HBTBICAI.   SOMAKCSI. 

Hiorough  Godis  help,  and  my  counsul, 

Soon  he  Bhall  be  &e«h  and  hail." 

The  sooth  to  say,  at  wordei  few. 

Slain  and  sodden  was  theheatbrn  shrew. 

Before  the  king  it  was  forth  brought. 

Quod  his  men,  "  Lord,  we  have  pork  eon^it; 

Eates  and  suppes  of  the  brewis  sootc,' 

llioron^  grace  of  God  it  shall  be  your  boot."* 

Befbie  Kii^  Richard  corfT  a  knight. 

He  ate  &ster  than  he  carve  might. 

Tlie  king  ate  the  fiesh,  and  gnew*  the  banes, 

And  drank  well  after  for  the  nonoe. 

And  when  he  had  eaten  enough. 

His  folk  hem  turned  away,  and  lough.* 

He  lar  still,  ajid  drew  in  his  arm ; 

His  chamberlain  him  wi^ped  warm. 

He  lay  and  slept,  and  swet  a  stound. 

And  became  whde  and  Bound. 

King  Richard  clod  him,  and  arose. 

And  walked  abonten  in  the  cloee. 
In  the  mean  time  the  Christians  had  continued  to  act  on 
ths  defengire,  and  Saladin  to  harasa  them  by  daily  assaults; 
•0  that  Richtud  heard  with  astonishment  and  indignation  the 
cries  of  the  enemy  at  no  great  distance  &om  his  tent.  He 
instantly  called  for  his  armour,  sprang  upon  his  horse,  grasped 
his  batue-axe,  rushed  upon  the  Saracens,  and  killed  with  his 
own  hands  all  who  TCntured  to  oppoee  him;  while  his  troo^, 
confident  of  rictory  under  his  direction,  closely  followed  him 
dirough  the  ranks  of  the  enemies,  and  ^read  slaughter  and 
desolation  round  them.  Saladin,  astonxshed  at  ^e  impe- 
tuosity of  an  attack,  which  he  had  not  foreseen,  from  a  dis- 
pirited and  nearly  vanquisbed  enemy,  was  at  length  compelled 
to  sound  a  repeat ;  and,  with  the  loss  of  his  whole  rear-guard, 
to  resume  his  old  positton  near  the  town  of  Qage,  at  ten  miles 
diitanoe  from  the  field  of  battle.  He  Christians,  wearied 
with  slau^ter,  returned  to  their  camp ;  and  Richard,  though 
fiillr  awar«  <^  the  extent  of  his  success,  stationed  his  guards 
with  the  some  exactness  as  if  the  enemy  had  still  menaced  his 


■Hdp. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


XICBABD    CKITB   BE    LIOK.  SIS 

When  Kin^  Kiehard  had  rested  a  whyle, 
A  knight  his  amu  can  unlace. 
Him  to  comfort  and  solace. 
Him  was  brought  a  sop  in  wine. 
"  The  head  of  that  ilke  swine 

That  I  of  ate! "  (the  cook  he  bade] 
"  For  feeble  I  am,  and  iaint,  and  mad. 
Of  mine  evil  now  I  am  fear; 
Serve  me  therewith  at  my  soupere!" 
Quod  the  cook,  "  That  head  I  ne  have." 
lien  eaid  the  king,  "  So  God  me  save, 
But  I  see  the  head  of  that  swine, 
For  aooth,  thou  shalt  lesen  thine!" 
Ilie  cook  saw  none  other  might  be; 
He  M  the  head,  and  let  him  see. 
He  fell  on  knees,  and  made  a  ciy, 
"  Lo  here  the  head!  my  lord,  mercy!" 
The  cook  had  certainly  some  reason  to  tear  that  his  master 
would  be  struck  with  hoiior  at  the  recoUectioa  of  the  dreadM 
banquet  to  which  he  owed  his  reoorery,  but  his  fears  were 
soon  dissipated. 

The  Bwarte  vis'  when  the-  king  seetb. 
His  black  beard,  and  white  teeth. 
How  his  lippes  griimed  wide, 
"What  devil  18  this?"  the  king  cried. 
And  gan  to  laugh  as  he  were  wode. 
**  What  ?  is  Saracen's  flesh  thus  good? 
That,  never  erst,  I  nought  wist! 
Bv  Oodes  death,  and  his  up-rist. 
Shall  we  never  die  for  default. 
While  we  may,  in  any  assault, 
&3ee  Saracens,  the  flesh  may  take. 
And  seethen,  and  rosten,  and  do  hem  bake. 
And  gnawen  her  flesh  to  the  bones! 
Now  i  have  proved  it  once. 
For  hunger  ere  I  be  wo, 
I  and  my  folk  shall  eat  mo!" 
On  Ae  fbllowing  day,  Richard  renewed  the  assault  on  the 
flity;  and  the  beai^ed,  having  no  further  hope  <d  snooonr, 
■BUckboe. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


814  XAKLT  KxaHsn  uttsicai.  bokxrccb. 

hmnUy  dananded  *  milef .  A  latimer  wu  diqMtclied  to  the 
Idngs  of  France  and  En^and,  wiA  initraclions  to  offer  on 
the  part  of  Sakdin  the  mitender  erf  Acres,  irith  (Ik  whole  of 
Syria,  as  far  as  the  riTier  Jtndon,  ao  conditiaii  Ifaat  the  Chiis- 
tians  sbonld  pay  to  the  sultan  a  yeaHy  tribate  of  ten  thonsaad 
bezants;  or  that  (hey  Bhomld  oonsent,  in  lien  cf  Ihia  tribute, 
to  invest  the  marquis  of  Montfenand  with  the  sovereign^  of 
&B  ceded  eonntriea.  Richard  could  no  Imger  repren  his 
fiuy.  The  marquis,  he  said,  wm  a  traitor,  who  had  robbed 
the  knights  hospitallen  of  sixty  tbonaand  potinds,  the  present 
of  his  father  Henry;  diathe  was  a  renegade,  whose  treachei; 
had  occasioned  the  loss  of  Acres;  and  he  concluded  by  a 
■olenm  oath,  that  he  iroold  cause  him  to  be  diHwn  to  pieces 
by  wild  horses,  if  he  sbonld  ever  ventmv  to  pollute  the  Chris- 
tian camp  by  his  presence.  Philip  attonpted  to  iittercede  in 
&Tour  of  the  marquis,  and,  throwmg  down  his  glove,  offered 
to  become  a  pledge  for  his  fidc^ty  to  the  Chmtiiing;  but  his 
offer  WM  rejected,  and  be  was  oUiged  to  give  way  to  JtiA- 
aid's  impetnosily.  lite  latimer  then  proposed  -tiie  sarrender 
of  the  town,  on  the  ade  eondition  of  safety  and  immnnily  to 
the  inhabitants ;  that  ail  the  public  treasure,  anns  and  mili- 
tary machines  should  become  the  property  ftf  the  victors, 
together  with  a  iioi^ker  lansma  of  -one  hundred  thousand 
beiants ;  and  that  the  iMily  aoM  -dundd  be  imiBediatcly  re- 
■tored;  the  garrison  remaining  poMnas  of  war  till  the  fall 
performance  of  these  ocmditMaa.  Bic&aid  basing  declared 
himself  satisfied,  the  owpitaibtiaB  noemd  dte  assent  of  the 
other  Christian  priocea,  wkd  they  took  pooMssion  'Of  the  towiu 
Hie  booty  shared  1^  the  victaws  was  enonacns;  numbers  of 
Chtistiiui  captives  WOK  liberated;  and  smaaBg  the  rest  fifteen 
knights  of  distinctiDii,  uriiom  Itichard  ismiediately  took  into 
pay,  after  liberally  supplying  thun  with  anu,  dothing,  and 
money,  from  his  share  of  the  pkatiar. 

Though  the  guriaon  had  &itfafiilly  jKxkamei  the  other 
articles  of  their  contract,  they  weaa  vnaUe  to  mttorc  the  cross 
which  was  not  in  their  possowion;  sod  were  therefore  treated 
by  the  Christians  with  gveat  cnid^.  Daily  teports  of  their 
sitings  were  canied  to  Soladin;  and  as  muw  of  iUmu  areie 
perecmB  of  the  highest  distinctioi),  that  nKaurob,  at  the  BidiaU 
tation  of  their  'friends,  dispatched  an  embas^  to  King  Richard 
with  magnificent  pressits,  which  he  offered  for  tiae  ransom  of 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BIOHAXD  cuttb  in  IIOX. 


Ihecaptrres.  The  ambaesadon  were  perscms  ttie  most  nipec- 
table  from  their  age,  tlteir  rank,  and  their  eloquence ;  tlM|T 
delivered  dieir  meosage  in  tenns  of  the  utmost  hanilitj;  a»a. 


without  arraigning  t£e  justice  of  the  conqueror  ii 
treatment  of  their  coun^ymen,  onty  soliched  a  p^iod  to  that 
sererity ;  laying  at  hia  feet  tiie  treaeuTee  with  which  they  were 
intrusted,  and  pledging  themseWee  and  their  master  for  the 
payment  of  any  Airther  sums  which  he  might  demand  as  fl>e 
pnoe  of  mercy. 

King  Bichatd  spake  with  wordee  mild, 
"  The  gold  to  take  Ood  me  rfueld! 
Among  yon  partes'  every  dmi^. 
I  brought,  in  shippee  and  iu  bu^, 
Hore  Eold  and  silver  with  me. 
Than  has  your  lord,  and  swilke*  three. 
To  his  treasure  I  have  no  need! 
Bat,  for  my  love,  I  you  bid. 
To  meat  with  me  that  ye  dweQ; 
And  afterward  I  shall  you  telL 
Thorough  counsel  I  shall  you  answer. 
What  bode'  ye  shall  to  your  lord  bear." 
The  invittttioa  was  gratefully  accepted.      Bichard  in  tbe 
mean  time  gave  secret  orders  to  bis  mambal  that  be  ahunld 
repair  to  tltc  prisan,  select  a  certain  number  of  the  most  £i- 
tingnished  captives,  and,  after  carefully  noting  tlteir  names  on 
a  roll  of  paK^iment,  cause  their  heads  to  be  instantly  struck 
off:  that  these  heads  should  be  delivered  to  tiie  cook,  with 
iustructioinB  to  clear  awtn  the  hnir,  and,  nfter  boiling  tiiem  in 
a  caldroD,  to  distribnte  them  on  several  platters,  one  to  cadi 
guest,  observing  to  fitstcp  on  the  {brehead  of  each  the  piece  df 
parehrment  expreasiiig  lbs  name  and  £unily  of  Ihe  victun : 
*'  An  hot  head  bring  me  befian. 
As  I  were  well  apayed'  withaH, 
Eat  thereof  bstT  shall; 
As  it  were  a  tender  chide. 
To  see  bow  the  others  wilt  Eke." 
This  horrible  order  was  punctually  executed.     At  noon  die 
guests  were  sunmioued  to  wash  by  the  maac  tf  the  waits; 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


316  EABI.T  XKCLISH   METBICJO.  BOMAKCZS. 

tlie  Icing  took  bis  scat,  attended  by  the  principal  officers  of 
his  court,  at  high  Uble,  and  the  re«t  of  the  company  were 
marefaftlled  at  a  lon^  table  below  him.  On  the  cloth  wei« 
placed  portionB  of  salt  at  the  usual  distances,  but  neither 
bread,  wine,  nor  water.  The  ambassadors,  rather  surprised 
at  this  omission,  but  still  free  from  apprehension,  anaitod  in 
silence  the  arrival  of  the  dinner,  which  was  announced  by  the 
sound  of  pipes,  trumpets,  and  tabouni;  and  beheld,  with 
hoiror  and  dismay,  the  unnntural  banquet  introduced  by  the 
Steward  and  his  officers.  Yet  their  sentiments  of  dic^^ust  and 
abhorrence,  and  even  their  fears,  were  for  a  time  suspended 
I^  their  curiosity.  Their  eyes  were  fised  on  the  king,  who, 
without  die  slightest  change  of  countenance,  swallowed  the 
morsels  as  last  as  they  could  be  supplied  by  the  knight  who 
e«rrcd  them. 

Ereiy  man  then  poktd  other; 
They  said,  "  This  is  the  devil's  brother. 
That  slays  our  men,  and  thus  hem  eats!" 
Their  attention  was  then  iuvoluntorily  fixed  on  the  smoking 
heads  before  them;  they  traced  in  the  swoln  and  distorted 
intures  the  resemblance  of  a  friend  or  near  relation;  and 
lecetTcd  from  the  fatal  scroll  which  accompanied  each  dish 
the  sad  ossunmce  that  this  resemblance  was  not  imaginary. 
Hiey  sat  in  torpid  silence,  anticipating  their  own  (ate  in  that 
of  ueir  countrymen;  while  their  ferocious  entertainer,  with 
fiiry  in  his  eyes,  but  with  courtesy  on  liis  lips,  insulted  them 
by  frequent  invitations  to  merriment.     At  length  this  first 
course  was  removed,  and  its  place  supplied  by  venison,  crones, 
and  other  dainties,  accompanied  by  the  richest  wines.     The 
king  then  apologized  to  them  for  what  had  passed,  which  he 
attributed  to  his  ignorance  of  their  taste;  and  assured  them 
of  his  religious  respect'for  their  character  as  ambassadors,  and 
of  his  readiness  to  gmnt  them  a  sale-conduct  for  their  return. 
HiIb  boon  was  all  that  they  now  wished  to  claim ;  and 
King  lUchard  spake  to  an  old  man, 
**'WendcB  homo  to  your  soudan! 
His  melancholy  that  ye  abote; 
And  sayes  that  ye  came  too  late. 
Too  slowly  was  your  time  y-guecaed; 
Ere  ye  come,  ibe  flesh  was  dnssed. 


J  t,  Google 


BIOSAAD  C(EU&  SB  LIOK.  3)7 

l^t  men  shoulden  serre  with  me, 

IlniB  at  no<m,  and  my  meynie.' 

Say  Iiim,  it  ehall  him  nou^t  arail, 

Hiough  he  for-bar*  ns  our  vitail. 

Bread,  wine,  fish,  fiesh,  galmon,  and  conger ; 

Of  UB  none  shall  die  with  hunger, 

"While  we  may  wenden  to  fight. 

And  elay  the  Saracens  downiia^t. 

Wash  tne  flesh  and  roagt  the  head. 

With  00'  Saracen  I  may  veil  fted 

WeU  a  nine  or  a  ten 

Of  my  good  Christian  men. 

King  Richard  shall  warrant. 

There  is  no  flesh  bo  nourissant* 

Unto  an  English  man. 

Partridge,  pToTer,  heron,  ne  swan. 

Cow  ne  OK,  sheep  ne  swine. 

As  the  head  of  a  Sarezyn. 

There  he  ie  &t,  and  thereto  tender; 

And  my  men  be  lean  and  slender. 

While  any  Saracen  quick  be, 

Livand  now  in  this  Syrie, 

For  meat  we  will  nothing  care. 

Abouten  fast  we  shall  fare. 

And  every  day  we  shall  cat 

All  so  many  as  we  may  get. 

To  England  will  we  nought  gon. 

Till  they  be  eaten  erery  one," 
The  ambassadors  returned  with  this  answer  to  Saladin, 
and  repeated  Teiy  exactly  every  circumstance  of  &e  dreadM 
scene  which  they  had  so  lately  witnessed;  adding  that  die 
heads  which  th^  had  been  enabled  to  examine,  belonged  to 
the  princes  of  Damascus,  Nineveh.  Persia,  Samaria,  ^%ypt, 
and  Africa.  Sahtdin  heard  the  recital  with  indignation ;  but 
his  council  were  struck  with  terror,  and  besought  their  sultan 
to  procure  if  possible,  by  fresh  solicitations  and  more  splendid 
offers,  the  restoration  of  the  captives  who  still  remamed  la 
the  hands  of  the  Christians.  A  second  embassy  wna  there&re 
dispatched  to  Bichard,  with  the  ofibr  of  a  &ir  partition  of  tiie 

>  CoDipuir,         ■  Dqmie.         *  One.         *  Nooiuliuis, 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


aoTCrdgn^  in  all  tbe  «Dpii«  Miti)ect  to  "wliliii  on  eonditkiti 
of  his  renoondi^r  t^  CJwirtinii  bilh,  and  tmibadag  that  of 
Jfabomet.  Bttt  Bidaid  dnduned  to  acoe^  am  m  &Toiir  what 
he  hoped  to  extort  by  fime;  and  bein^  iaeeMMd  hejtnkl  mea- 
Bai«  at  the  conditisn  tmaaxila  the  eSs,  ftnal^  ie|^ed,  that 
if  the  holy  cms  were  Dot  faroaf^  to  hni  om  the  fbUcnniig 
Hmj,  ernr  prisoDn'  talcBi  at  Aom  dMBld  thai  be  sacrifiedl 
TIk  ambosndor  aaswovd.  that  a  eoaqilkmea  with  this  article 
ifM  iippossihle,  beeasse  the  cnm  etmU  Bot  be  foimd;  and 
BidMid  gave  <xden  lb«  the  jouBediate  eseration  of  aity 
dttMBand  captiTes. 

They  wrae  led  mto  the  place  Ml  em. 
There  ther  heaid  wogda  at  hearoi: 
Utey  Mid,  **  Sei^M!«ica,  taex,'  taex! 
Spaies  hem  noo^it.  and  beheadeth  these!" 
King  SidHid  hnid  the  ai^ds'  Toire, 
And  thanked  God.  and  the  bidy  eron. 
Ihe  author  of  the  romance  rttmadfring  that  murder,  con- 
dacted  on  so  grand  s  scale,  at  the  expense  of  nabelicrers,  and 
exfnaiy  enjoined  by  ai^ls.  coold  not  &til  of  communicating 
gieat  |deasarc  to  the  reader,  bas  here  intro^ocdthe  following 
epaodieal  dcacriptiiHi  of  opting: 

Heny  is,  in  lime  td  Ifay, 

'When  fowlis  tiof  in  her  1^. 

Floweies  on  apj^-tnt*  and  penff 

Stoall  feiriiB  sing  meny. 

Indies  stmr  ho- bowers 

With  red  roses  and  lilly  flows. 

Great  joy  is  in  frith*  and  kke; 

Beast  and  bird  plan's  with  his  maiks;* 

"np  damtseies  lead  dance; 

Enights  play  with  shield  and  lancc; 

la  justs  and  toumamonts  they  tide; 

Many  a  case  hem  betide! 

■any  chances,  and  stndies  hard! 


ere  the  lesdlt  of  an  imlbrta- 
■ding  with  ttM  tng  of  Ranee.     Richwd, 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


UOHASZI   C<EUK  ^  LIOK.  319 

it  seems,  at  an  entertainment  whioli  he  gave  to  the  Cfaristiui 
princn  in  honour  of  tite  caftaxt  of  Acres,  had  disbibutMi 
ammg  the  heralds,  Jitourt,  tnhtntrer*,  and  frow»pww>,  who 
Mpompanied  him,  the  greater  part  of  die  mone^,  jewek, 
bones,  and  fine  robes  'wtach  had  &llen  to  his  ihai«;  and  hod 
leatowed  allotments  of  land  on  his  earls  and  benns;  after 
which  he  stron^y  urged  to  Phil^  tlie  neceBsity  of  laUowiiw 
his  example.  The  advice  vas,  perhaps,  very  good:  iMt  good 
advice  is  an  article  'whose  value  is  not  fixed  by  any  known 
rate  of  exchange;  and  Philip,  irbose  pnnimoay  wu  not  at  idl 
oetentatious,  was  offended  by  this  pubUc  discussion  ef  his 
daracter.  lUchard,  however,  no  lees  prodigal  of  bis  instmC' 
tion  than  of  his  money,  continued  to  give  him  a  variety  of 
lessons  ibr  his  guidance  during  the  campaign  which  was  about 
to  recommence;  insisting,  above  all,  that  he  should  never  be 
tinted  by  any  ransom  to  spare  the  life  of  an  nnb^ever,  but 
Aowd  put  to  the  sword  without  hesitation  all  the  Saracens 
whom  he  ^ould  not  be  able  to  convert  to  Christianity.  The 
naalt  was,  that  Philip  promised  implicit  obedience ;  but  left 
tt«  dimuar  with  a  nsed  determination  of  acting,  on  every 
omaiaB,  si  ^rect  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  the  king  of 

BKtad. 

■■ah,  indeed,  is,  in  tiie  opinion  of  oar  antluff,  dw  geasasl 
tkMBDter  of  Frenchmen. 

The  Frenche  men  be  covetous. 

When  they  sit  at  a  taverne, 

Here  they  be  stout  and  stem 

Boastftil  wordes  for  to  crack, 

And  rfher  deeds  yelping'  make. 

Little  worth  they  ore,  ond  mickle  pnMd. 

Fight  they  can  with  wordes  loud, 

And  teH  no  man  is  l^r  peer; 

Bnt,  when  they  eome  to  the  myatwr,* 

And  see  men  begin  strokes  de^ 

Anon  they  gnnne'  to  turn  hex  hed; 

And  gunne  to  diawen  in  her  horns, 

As  a  Biia3  amour  the  thonv. 
ndlip's  fiat  expeditieB  was  «ffaa^  Urn  eity  of  Wxmde, 
of  vriiioh  he  fbimad  the  UoduMb.    The  Saneens  iaimeJim^ 
>  BoHting.  ■  Work,  mtikr,  7r.  *  B«tiii. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


330  KAKLT  BHaUIH  KSISICAL  BOKAKCSt. 

oftf«d  temu  of  e^talation,  snd  Philip  eonaented  to  leeept 
a  nuMcnn  of  one  becant  per  head  for  the  lohabitanta  and  niii- 
■OD,  on  condition  that  they  ihould  take  the  oath  dT  te&j  to 
him,  and  display  his  bonnen  on  the  high  tower  of  the  citadd. 
His  stay  in  this  town  was  no  longer  than  was  neccnaty  to 
receiTe  the  stipulated  tribute;  after  which  he  marched  to 
Arcbane,  and,  having  collected  a  similar  ransom  &om  its 
inhabitants,  returned  with  great  militair  pomp  to  Acres. 

Richaid,  having  reviewed  the  remainder  of  the  Christian 
Bimy,  found  it  to  consist  of  one  hundred  thousand  cavalry  and 
ten  thoosand  infknby,  besides  the  usual  attendants  (hi  a  camp. 
Among  the  warriors  who  compoeed  it  were 

— his  erne'  Henry  of  Champagne, 
And  his  master  Bobert  of  Lej^ttre, 
Robert  de  Tonmeham,  Sir  Fulk  Doyl^,  Sir  nomas  Moulbm, 
and  Sr  Bertram,  a  valiant  boron  of  Brindiai.  The  king  h»- 
laiwued  the  tamy,  eipbuning  to  them  the  object  and  motiTca 
of  tine  war,  and  strictly  enjoined  them  not  to  be  satisfied  with 
die  ^iparent  submission  of  an  insidious  enemy,  but  to  put  to 
the  s<iTOid,  without  mercy,  all  who  should  refuse  to  embrace 
Christianity.  He  divided  the  forces  into  three  parts,  for  the 
pnrpoae  of  undertaking  at  the  same  time  the  sieges  of  Sudan 
Snny,  Orglyous,  and  Ebedy;  and,  having  taken  to  himsflf 
the  direction  of  the  first,  intrusted  the  second  to  Moulton,  and 
the  third  to  Dc^ley. 

Richard,  bemg  airived  before  die  d^  of  Sudan,  made 
every  apparent  Reparation  for  a  regular  sieee;  took  pones- 
non  of  ail  the  avenues  to  tbe  gates ;  brought  his  battering 
engines  to  bear  on  the  walla ;  and  dischorf^  from  his  cross- 
bows loige  flights  of  arrows  upon  the  garrison.  Bnt  a  nearer 
survey  soou  convinced  him  that  the  walls  mi^t  be  safely 
attempted  by  escalade.  He  therefore  dispatched  a  body  ot 
three  thousand  picked  men,  provided  with  scaling-ladders  of 
an  enormous  size,  to  attempt  a  distant  and  unguarded  port  at 
the  works,  while  he,  by  a  feigned  attack  on  the  prinupd  gate, 
attracted  the  whole  attention  of  the  garrison.  Hie  stratagem 
succeeded.  Tlie  Christians  made  their  way  into  the  town 
unperceived,  pressed  forward  towards  the  principal  gate, 
overpowered  the  detached  bodies  of  the  enemy  who  soccen- 

'  Unde. 


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SIOHABD  CffiUS  HE  IIOIT.  321 

iveh'  c^ipoaed  them,  and  let  down  ihe  draw-bridge,  over  wbich 
Richard,  who  had  learned  the  Buccesa  of  his  contriTance  b; 
the  coniiiBion  observed  among  the  besieged,  instantly  made 
his  way,  attended  fay  Sir  Kobert  de  Taumehom,  Robert  of 
Leycester,  and  Sir  Bertram.  The  whole  army  followed,  and 
put  the  entire  garrison  together  with  the  inluibitouta  to  the 
■word. 

Sir  Hiomaa  de  Monlton  was  indebted,  for  his  euccew 
ag(dnst  Castel  Orglyous,  to  the  sagacity  with  which  he  dis- 
covered  and  circomTented  a  strntaeem  of  the  enemy.  A  ' 
Christian  renegade  arrived  in  the    Kng1ij>h  camp  wiui  the 

Disible  story  of  his  haying  escaped  from  prison,  to  which  be 
been  connned  on  account  of  his  fiiith,  and  with  an  offer 
of  introducing  the  assailants,  by  a  secure  and  unBospeoted 
avenue,  into  the  town.  Sir  Thomas,  suspecting  his  treachery, 
gave  instant  orders  that  his  ears  should  be  slit,  and  that  he  ' 
^ould  be  hanged  up  b^  the  heels  in  sight  of  the  enemy ;  ' 
when  the  renegade,  &llmg  on  his  knees,  confessed  his  inten> 
tion,  and  explained  the  project  contrived  for  the  destructibn  . 
of  the  Christians.  It  seems  that  under  the  draw-bri^e  of  the '' 
town  was  a  pit  of  great  depth;  and  a  trap-door  in  the  bridge 
itself  was  so  contrived  as  to  open  with  the  weight  of  a  roan,  ■ 
and  to  close  again  by  a  spring,  after  having  precipitated  the  , 
assailants  into  the  ab^.  The  renegade  added  that  the  Sara-  ' 
ccns  were  much  afraid  of  the  English  military  engines,  the  | 
dreadful  effect  of  which  had  been  mlly  proved  at  the  eiego  of' 
Acres :  be  therefore  recommended  that  Sir  Thomas  should ' 
order  some  great  stones  to  be  discharged  against  the  principal ' 
buildings,  and  pledged  hiraselF,  if  he  might  be  peimitted  to  . 
re-enter  the  town,  he  would  procure  its  immediate  surrender. ' 
Lastly,  he  hombly  petitioned  that,  if  the  English  should  be- '. 
come,  through  hiB  means,  masters  of  the  town,  Sir  Thomas 
would  be  pleased  to  grant  Aim  a  boon;  which  the  general , 
variously  promised.  The  renegade  was  now  dismissed ;  the  , 
discharge  of  the  mangemdi  was.  ordered;  and  the  success  of, 
these  measures  was  soon  evinced  by  the  arrival  of  deputies  ' 
ftom  the  town  with  ofi^  of  unconditional  surrender.  -  Sir , 
Thomas  insisted  that  the  treacherous  pit  should  be  imme-' 
diatelf  filled,  and  the  draw-bridge  removed ;  and  his  orders 
being  readily  obeyed,  he  took  possession  of  the^itadel.  The 
renegade  now  came  forward  to  claim  his  booni  which  extended 
no  Airther  than  to  a  request  of  mere  subsistence  during  the 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


322  Kt.Bi.T  BirauBH  mrticis.  soicAvcEa. 

leniBiiider  of  his  life,  iriiich  he  propoeed  to  spoid  in  acta  of 
penance  and  contridon.  He  then  receircd  absolution  ftom  a 
priest;  and  Sir  Thomas,  much  edified  by  his  piety,  from  that 
moment  retained  him  near  hia  penon. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Saracens,  being  well  aware  that  they 
ahonld  roeedily  be  compelled  to  renonnce  their  religion,  had 
laid  a  plot  to  murder  Sir  Thomas  and  all  his  officers  during 
the  ni^t;  and  the  RngliiJi  having  indulged  too  ficel;  in 
thense 

^— of  bread  flnd  wine, 

Piment,  dairy,  good  and  fine. 

Of  cranes,  and  swvns,  and  Tmism, 

Fatridgcs,  plorers,  and  heron. 

Of  larl^  and  small  volatile,' — 
were  on  the  point  of  being  sacrificed  to  the  treachery  of  the 
infidels.  Bnt  the  new  convert,  snspecting  the  design  of  his 
former  associates,  fortunately  detected  the  plot  at  die  moment 
of  its  intended  execution,  and  carried  the  information  to  Sr 
Thconas,  who  revenged  the  attempt  by  the  in<Uscrimtnate 
slanghter  of  all  the  inhabitants. 

The  si^e  of  Ebedy.  which  had  been  insisted  to  Sir  Fulk 
Dojley,  presented  fiir  greater  difficulties,  the  garrison  being 
at  least  equal  in  number  to  the  attacking  army.  The  Engli^ 
mangonels,  however,  were  so  well  served,  that  the  principal 
towers  were  nearly  mined ;  and  the  breach  appearing  prac- 
ticable, Sir  Fulk  ordered  his  army  to  the  assault-  But  it  wiis 
now  discovered  that  the  depth  of  the  ditch,  and  the  height  of 
ihe  walls,  still  presented  an  insuperable  obstacle;  the  assail- 
ants were  slaughtered  in  great  numbers,  and  it  became  neces- 
aaiy  to  sound  a  retreat.  Sir  Fulk  then  collected  a  number  of 
fascines,  with  which,  and  rubbish,  the  ditch  was  partly  filled; 
the  military  engines  were  brought  nearly  to  the  feet  of  the 
wall;  stones,  arrows,  and  wild  fire  were  discharged  into  the 
town ;  and  the  besieged  were  so  effectually  harassed,  that  they 
at  length  resolved  to  attempt  their  deliverance  tn  a  battle  in 
the  open  field,  rather  than  encounter  the  risk  of  being  buried 
under  the  rains  of  their  city.  TTiby  therefore  sallied  ont  in 
such  numbers  as  to  astonish  the  Enelish  commander — 
There  they  rode,  all  Uie  earth 
Under  their  horeo'  feet  it  quoke :' 
^  Sir  Fnlk  beheld,  and  gan  to  look. 

■  ?l}iii( birds.  t  Shodc;  tranUed. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


SIOHAKD  CSUB  OX  LIOIT.  323 

Wt  Ihde  anBy  looked  aim  with  much  attention,  and  same 
alarm,   at  the  military  pomp  of  sixty  tunirala,   and  a  &!- 
stntched  body  of  brilliant  cavalry,  irhose  numbers,  when 
conqiuted  by  uieir  fear,  amounted  to  at  least  eighty  thousand. 
Bnt  Sir  Fulk,  having  represented  to  them  that  victory  ia  in 
the  hands  of  Heaven,  fell  on  his  knees,  and  after  a  short 
ptaycr,  in  >riudi  he  iras  joined  by  the  tewpa.  seizing  the 
moment  of  their  enthusiasm,  led  tbem  on  to  battle.     Tha 
Saracens,  whose  general  ^  Axoade  waa  killed  by  Sir  Pulk, 
were  at  length  routed;  their  retreat  totrards  the  town  was 
intercepted;  and  such  as  escaped  the  avoids  of  the  soldien 
were  kaiocked  down  and  killed  by  the  "  foot-folk  and  simple 
knaves"  of  the  Engli^  camp,  who  displayed  great  activi^  in 
desb«ying  and  stripping  the  {ugitives: 
No  man  would  the  dogs  bury ; 
Christian  men  rested,  and  made  hem  many; 
Of  good  wine  ilk  man  drank  a  draught, 
And  when  that  they  heart  had  caught, 
Cooled  hem,  and  keeped  her  state. 
Anon  they  broke  the  town  gate. 
Here,  of  course,  the  slaughter  lecommenoed.    Uen,  women, 
and  children,  were  indiscriminately  put  to  deatii,  and  the 
town  given  np  to  pillage;  after  i^oh  Sir  Fulk,  having  left  a 
^rrison  in  the  place,  marched  to  join  Sir  Thomaa  at  Castel 
Orglyous,  and  proceeded  with  bim  to  the  royal  army  at  Sudan 
Suiry,  from  whence  they  returned  with  Riciurd  to  Uie  general 
tendezvous  at  Acres. 

It  waa  requisite  to  spend  some  time  in  tibia  city  for  the  pur- 
poee  of  curing  the  wounded,  and  of  recrmting  the  stzeng^  of 
the  army  after  their  iatigues;  and  the  intcrral  waa  employed 
in  feasts  in  honour  of  their  victories.     At  one  of  these  ^iter- 
tainments,  Bdchard  proposed  that  each  genend  should  relate 
the  events  of  the  expedition  he  commanded;  and  set  the 
exam^e  by  reciting  the  slau^ter  of  the  infidels  at  Sudan 
Surry.     Sir  Thomas  and  Sir  Fnlk  no  less  successftiUy  vindi- 
cated tbemaelves  from  any  imputation  of  remoiae  of  pity  toe 
the  vanqnishcd  Saracens;  the  latter  observing, 
"Oayned'  hem  no  mercy  ciy; 
"What  should  dogges  do  bnt  die? 
All  the  iblk  hopp^  head.lesa;' 
In  thie  manner  I  made  peace,*' 
>  IttvdleddMn.  *  Withont their budi. 

T  2 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


KAXLT    XKCUSB    HKTKICA^   SOMURIS. 


ooafcaB  dwt  both  pben  me  inhabited  I7  infidek,  he  was 
•evecdy  TCbnked  I17  Bidwid,  win  represented  to  fabn  dut 
Ua  newlf  amuiied  anbieeli  voold  soon  V  leen  nnanK  tfae 
fim  iiHwl  of  Us  cDenuM;  Mad  Aat,  S)t  d>e  entificatian  of  hv 
own  aiaiica,  he  had,  by  his  jmtended  bb^.  ""^"B***^  ^>b 

nDoortaken  ^linst  both  towmj  and  al  boCh  Fau^  waa 
nodved,  aa  Bidiard  had  jaedicted,  with  coatempt  aad  de- 
fi^tee:  bat  Ae  French  anaj  was  bow  acecaiqMaued  by  that 
of  dK  &^B^  aad  of  aQ  the  Cbristtan  pamn;  and  the 
liiiilllllM)    <t  the  SaiMOi  j^rri™  iwily  kd  to  tlMir  Dltcr 

Pldhp,  thcN^  hepaitook  lai^^  of  die  profit,  bid  Htde 
shaie  in  Ae  ^imty  of  diis  espediticn;  aad  his -wmotded  pnde 
led  hna  to  thvait,  en  «<rcry  fntnrc  acasiaa.  the  aMaauies  of 
his  too  iHnafaiouB  liraL  lliis  disnnicn  of  die  ehi^  was  aocn 
Msniftsted  I7  its  conaeqaowes. 

TIm  Hsited  ainiy  next  proceeded  towardi  (^jplna,  fbQow. 
iag  the  sea-coast,  lor  the  puiyuse  of  receiTiug  UteaneHn^ 
sappUea  bf  water. 

A^sioflt  bem  comen  her  uaiifjr. 
Cages',  and  dnxDoonds,  manj  gall^. 
Barges,  sdaNites,  tiajtjeg  Me*, 
That  wa«  charged  with  aD  weal, 
With  ammir,  ai^  with  other  Tita3, 
That  nothing  in  the  host  sfaoald  biL 
Tbe  wealhcT  was  iatxasetj  hot;   dwir  mssdi,   it  dtogU 
Beam,  iad>^  disordeify ;  and  this  disorder  was  iiiiiili  iia  nawd 
bj  an  accident, 

TburoD^  a  cait,  that  waa  Hnhert's  Gantiie, 
Ihat  was  set  al  in  a  miie. 
Saladin,  ahniTS  watcfafol  and  entetpnan^  Imd  followed 
the  Christians  at  no  ^nai  distance  with  a  ehoseti  bodf  of 
caTaby,  and  being  infenned  1^  his  qws  of  their  teaoporair 
emfuam,  instantlj'  Mi  Uke  lighining  on  their  lear-gnaid. 
nmtcd  it  w^  gi^  elan^iter.  and  nw^  accnopUstwd  the 
defeat  of  the  ^tole  arn^.  Ridhsrd,  with  tl^  saDaot  Ltmgme- 
•^,  hastened- to  the  spot,  and,  after  peribnn^p^odipes  of 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BICBASD   coeoB  DE  XIOIT.  325 

valour,  taUied  the  fiigitiveB,  and  enabled  tiiem  to  make  bead 
against  Qte  enemy.  Bnt  the  heat  of  tlie  weather,  and  the 
^ouds  of  dust,  which  a  scorching  wind  drove  fidl  in  their 
bees,  was  more  destructive  than  the  aword  of  the  Samcena. 
The  king,  almost  exhausted  b^  fetigue,  began  to  despair  of 
success,— 

On  his  knees  he  gan  down  fidl; 
"  Help!"  to  Jesn  te  gan  call,— 
"  For  love  of  thy  momer  Maiy !" 

And,  as  I  find  in  his  story. 

He  saw  come  St.  Oeoi^  the  knight, 

Upon  ft  steed  good  and  tig^t, 

In  arms  white  as  tbe  flour. 

With  a  cross  of  red  colour. 

AH  that  he  met  in  that  etousd. 

Horse  and  man,  went  to  ground, 

And  the  wind  gan  wax  lythe.' 
A  snccour  so  miraculous  and  opportune  imttantlv  restored 
the  strength  and  spirits  of  the  Ctmstians.  Richard,  Longne- 
ipke.  Sir  Berb^m,  and  Sir  Robert  Toumeham  united  foeir 
efforts:  the  Saracens  were  foroed  to  give  way,  and  ultimately 
fled  in  con^ion,  with  the  loss  of  taeir  best  troops,  to  the 
mountains  of  Nazareth;  and  the  allied  army,  resuming  their 
march,  arrived  in  safety  at  Cayphas,  where  they  celebrated  a 
solemn  thanksgiving  in  honour  of  their  victory. 

On  the  follcming  day  dtte  Christians  pursued  their  route  to 
the  city  of  Palestine,  where  they  encamped  to  wait  for  their 
provisioiM.  The  fleet  was  most  un&rtunately  delajied  1^ 
various  accidents;  and  Saladintook  advantage  of  this  mterval 
to  dismantle  all  the  fbrtifled  places  in  the  disbict,  for  the 
purpose  of  confining  them  to  the  coast,  ftora  the  want  of 
secure  magazines.  The  romance  enumerates  the  castles  of 
Mirabel,  C^phyne,  Seracye,  Areour,  Jafb,  Touroun,  Castle- 
Pikrim,  La  Fere,  8t  Geoi^  de  Reyne,  together  with  the 
waUs  of  Bethlem  and  Jerusalem ;  the  only  places  spared  being 
Haiden-castle,'  and  the  castle  of  Aukesland.  After  these 
measures  the  sultan  dispat<^ed  messengers  to  Richard,  invi^ 
tin^  him  to  decide  the  campaign  by  a  decisive  battle  in  tbe 
plam  of  Arsour;  and  the  challenge  vras  accepted  without 
hesitation.  >._ 

Ibis  in^catant  conflict  is  dMBAed  more  oircumBtaatially 
■  Soft;  wrak.  A.  8. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


J26  EABi,T  KxeusH  xKrmicAi  bomaxcb*. 

ten  mteO«iblT.    Tk  Sumcb  fixoes,  imwm  fern  aH  farts 

Of  no  hads  dnn  anr  en  tell. 
S.^  He  tUt  made  hMyn  nd  UU 


r  fared  alM  it  bmt! 
Thee  ifaiMSMia  Tvks  ta^  at  Ae  bat 
\ntk  bov-.TnbTX.  nd  anov-UMt-. 
1  ihnwiail  lilimn  t"*  J"*  — 
AB  at  DM  Oct  Bites  Oo. 
An  the  cnth  dewed*  kern  ndcr! 
KdMid.  m  imh>ti_  oT  SaUin.  fan-ed  U*  amain  m 
Aim  divifMos;  tbe  fiist  BOQwdi^  of  the  Ksi^hts  Tcnplm 
and  Hwuiakn.  bone  kd  bv  Jaqws  Dnvns.  and  Join  de 
NeW;  &e  imaid  far  tbe  diobt  oT  Bar^n^  nd  ifae  c«H  of 
Bookvw;  and  tbe  ibord  hv  UmaOt.  wiA  Hijirf,  TMnebsn. 
■■d  (£fr  «uls  of  Sabsban-  aad  I^rccater. 

TW  battle  cmannd  br  »  farioaa  (bnce  of  tbe  ^Ri^ 
Td^bire:  bat  Jaqaa  Dn^as.  Kuadcd  only  by  hJa^two 
•OM.  hKBy  ORicd  too  br  In-  bH  iiw  liiiMily.  waa  miauaj 
'  L  and  cat  «C  fttMik  iwajlalii  i  «t  latrnt.  Ibe 
Tutea        ^-^^-- 


rt>>Wwta-aNa 
TV  FRwb  savs  Lf  skv  an  b 
;\nnwiri$  ^uk  ibb  E^btb  ai«' 
<W  KAcd  bn  w  ^a«*. 
mm  Ubmd  naar  M  E^^  k^^ 
Tim  fiwolT  ba^  Ub  far  to  %bt ; 
Aad  b«d  on.  a*  iber  «CR  aadc 
a'aSorbbad.— 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


^steskSD  oasvR  its  liob.  327 

And  many  of  the  Heathen  hounds 
With  her  teeth  gnew  on  the  gronndfl. 
Bt  the  blood  upon  the  grass 
l£en  might  see  where  £chard  wasi— 
Sax  thouand  and  seven  Boore 
At  once  he  drove  him  befne. 
Up  againBt  an  hi^  cliff ; 
Thev  fled  m  deer  that  had  be  drive; 
And,  for  dread  of  King  Kichard, 
Off  tiie  cliff  thef  flew  downweid, 
And  all  to-brast'  hone  and  men. 
That  never  none  com  to  life  of  hem. 
The  root  now  bemme  general.     Saladin  himself  fled  from 
the  field  in  dsspair,  and  was  putvned  hj  Kichard;  who, 
finding  his  horse  naequal  to  the  speed  of  .his  enemy,  seized  a 
bow  &om  a  foot  soldier,  and,  directing  an  airvw  against  the 
saltan,  wounded  him  in  the  riioiilder.     Sixty  ttiousand  Sara- 
oens  fell  in  this  battle,  and  their  camp  wta  {riUaged  by  iba 
Christians. 

King  Richard  took  tbe  panlloinw, 
Of  sendol,  and  of  cyolatonn*. 
lltey  ware  shape  of  otstels; 
Of  gold  and  silver  the'poioeU. 
Many  were  the  feir  gest 
Theretm  were  written,  and  wild  beast, 
Tigen,  dragMia,  lions,  lemnrd: 
All  this  wan  the  fciwg  fiiuiEad. 
fieunden  co£&ra,  and  great  mails*. 
He  bad  then  withootm  tales. 
Of  tzeasove  they  had  so  miclde  wone*, 
Th^  wist  so  where  their  good  to  done.* 
After  the  battle  the  army  rested  at  Arsour,  and  Richard's 
first  care  was  to  discover  uie  body  of  the  heroic  Dev^ns, 
■which  he  immediately  sent  off  under  the  care  of  Sir  GautieE, 
chief  of  the  Hospitalas,  to  be  intenned  wiQi  all  due  honouis 


It  was  now  determined  to  attempt,  without  finther  delay. 

Ibe  si^e  of  Nineveh ;  but  istelligenoe  being  received  that  the 

.6an>cen«  were  assembling  in  great  nmnbers  in  the  f  lain  of 

1  Bant,  poMwd.     •  A  rieh  Oriwitil  itnir.     ■  Boiei,  psckaga,  Fr. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


328  XAXI.T  XXOLIIH  XXtmiCAJ.  XOIUTCXS. 

Odoh.  it  became  ikkmiiji  to  defeat  them  in  tlie  fint  "'"'•■~t 
Kiehard.  dividing  tlie  Christiaiia  into  Ibnr  parta,  directed  tibem 
to  take  diflcrcnt  routes,  so  as  to  airiTC  <m  the  fidd  aod  make 
their  attack  on  Cbor  opposte  points :  he  also  oidered  them  to 
disj^y  only  the  Seiwxn  standards  whii^  tltey  had  caplored 
in  the  fidd  of  Arsour.  By  this  s&atagem  toe  eoemy  were 
eomplet^  mrpised  and  routed,  excepting  a  small  hody, 
iriiidk,  not,  beine  prcased  with  sufficirait  vigmir  by  PhOip'a 
dinnm,  retreated  in  good  order  to  Nineveh. 

The  siege  of  that  city  ins  next  Tmdertakoi;  and  die  mili- 
tary engines  being  broagfat  op  to  the  walla,  the  ™fiig»»ip<» 
began  to  cast  stones,  and  at  the  same  time 

ArrowUast  ot  vys,'  with  qnandl. 

With  staff-din^  that  smite  wdl, 

Widi  trepeB;ettes*  thn  slongen  also; 

Tliat  WHMif^  hem  fiiU  mickle  wo! 

And  blew  wild  fire  in  bmnpes  of  gin 

To  mii^Lle  sonow  to  hem  within. 
Bnt  theae  tardy  opersti<Kis  were  bood  suspended  by  a  pro- 
poaal  &mn  the  garriscm,  to  whidt  King  Kiclttrd  most  joymOy 
oonaented;  Tii.,  that  the  &te  of  &e  place  and  of  its  depen- 
denciea  shonld  be  decided  by  a  combat  between  three  Sancra 
and  three  Christian  champicHB.  Sir  Archolya,  Sir  Coadyr- 
fans,  and  ^  Calahre  were  rcspectiT^y  opposed  to  Richard, 
ffir  Tbomiw  Toum^kam,  and  Sir  Folk  Doyley,  and  had  the 
hononr  of  contesting,  for  a  short  time,  the  victory  with  the 
three  brnveat  knights  in  the  world.  The  issne  of  the  combat, 
bowerer,  proved  &tal  to  the  Mahometan  t^iampiona;  the  city 
was  surrendered;  and  the  garrison  and  inhabitantB,  who  bad 
been  spectators  of  the  battle,  bong  canvinoed  diat  tbe  best 
religion  was  that  wbidi  oonfened  nulitaiT  soperiority,  came 
in  crowds  to  be  baptised,  and  to  fallow  the  stsndara  of  the 
conqneroTA. 

Saladin,  in  the  mean  time,  had  retreated  to  Babylon,  where 
he  again  assembled  a  vast  army;  bnt,  being  Barpnaed  by  the 
sudden  march  of  his  enemies,  was  unexpectedly  besiwed  \n 
them  in  bis  capital.  Tlie  Christians,  well  aware  of  Uie  a^ 
Tantage  of  attaddog  him  in  a  position  where  his  cavalry  was 
perfectly  useless,  lost  no  time  in  comjdeting  the  blockade. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


BICHAAB  C<£DK  HE  I,TOR.  329 

Bictord,  always  inde&tigable,  harassed  the  besieged  by  coa- 
Btant  night  attacks,  in  which  the  flights  of  quairclls  and  ar- 
rows from  his  engines  did  great  execution;  and,  during  the 
day,  employed  his  mangonels  to  beat  down  the  outworks  and 
approaches  to  the  city.  In  short,  the  romancer  assures  us 
&aX  the  destruction  of  Saladin  and  his  whole  army  would 
have  been  unavoidable,  had  not  Philip  been  bribed  by  the 
vast  treasures  sent  by  the  besieged  to  withdraw  his  forces, 
under  pretence  of  wonting  provisions,  and  thus  to  prevent  the 
continuation  of  the  blockade. 

Saladin,  being  thus  enaWed  to  meet  his  enemy  once  more 
in  the  field,  sent  a  messenger  to  oSer  battle;  and  at  the  some 
time  a  challenge  to  King  Kichard,  to  meet  him  in  single  com- 
bat in  fi:ODt  of  the  two  armies,  for  the  purpoae  of  deciding 
their  respective  pretensions,  and  of  ascertaining  whether 
"Jesus  or  Jupiter"  was  the  more  powerful  divinity.  The 
oballenge  was  accompanied  by  the  oflfer  of  a  war-herse,  &x 
superior  in  strength  and  activity  to  Favel  ot  Cypnie  or  Lyard 
of  Frys,  (the  favourite  horses  of  Bichard,)  whidi  it  was  pro- 
posed that  he  should  ride  on  the  occasion. 

It  seems  that  a  necromancer,  a  "noble  clerk,"  had  con. 
jured  two  "strong  fiends  of  the  air"  into  the  likeness  of  a 
mare  and  her  colt;  and  that  the  younger  devil  had  received 
instructions  to  kneel  down  and  suck  his  dam,  as  often  as  she. 
by  neighing,  should  give  him  a  signal  for  the  purpose.  Such 
an  attitude  could  not  but  prove  very  inconvenient  to  his 
rider,  who  would  thus  be  nearly  at  the  mercy  o!  his  anta- 
gonist; and  it  was  hoped  that  Saladin,  being  mounted  on 
Ste  mare,  would  obtain  on  ^sy  victoir.  Richard,  ignorant 
of  this  conspiracy  against  his  life  and  honour,  readily  ac- 
cepted all  the  conditions ;  the  horse  was  sent  on  the  morning 
of  the  battle  to  the  Christian  camp;  and  the  hopes  of  the 
fiend  and  of  the  Sultan  seemed  on  t^  point  of  being  realized. 

But,  during  the  preceding  night,  an  angel  hod  appeared  to 
the  Christian  hero;  had  related  the  machinations  of  the  Ba- 
ncens ;  had  given  him  fidl  instiuctionB  for  the  management  _ 
of  his  diabolical  steed;  and  had  presented  to  him  a  spear- 
head, which  no  armour,  however  enchanted,  was  able  to  resist. 
At  the  fint  dawn  of  day  the  hostile  armies  b^;an  to  form  in 
otdex  of  battle.  That  of  the  Saracens,  occupyfng  an  extent 
ftt  ten  miles  in  front,  threatened  to  BOntHma  W  iuferioi 
foroesof  the  ChriatianB;  * 


3S0  E1.XLT  BSQUBH  XBIZICll  SOKUTCEB. 

Ab  BDow  l^ges  oa  tte  monttaoiw, 

Be-helied'  were  hOk  and  plainB, 

With  htmberic  bwlit  and  fiiilmni  dmi. 

Of  Imiiqies  and  <■  tmbrarer 

To  hear  the  Boise  it  ma  ironder: 

As  though  the  earth  abore  «nd  nndcx 

Should  fB^l*'p ,  so  filled  the  sound! 
Kichard,  howeror,  per^ctlj  indifibimt  ahont  ^le  mmilMn 
of  the  infidels,  pointed  them  out  to  his  boem  m  a  mwhitndf 
of  Tictinis  whom  heaven  ^^A  deatined  to  aacnfice :  and,  calloic 
for  hJB  anna  and  horae,  immediatdy  piqMaad  tat  battle. 

The  fiend  hone  b^ng  led  forth,  the  king,  in  uunfanuiiy  to 
the  angel's  inatractiona,  conjoied  him,  in  the  name  of  tbe 
Trinily,  to  submit  to  his  gtu^oce  in  the  battle;  andthefiend 
baring  shaken  bia  bead  in  token  of  aeqnieaeence,  he  ofdered 
tiiat  viB  cieataie'a  eara  sboold  be  (basely  abqqied  widi  wax, 
and  that  be  should  be  cuariaaned  in  the  TTi"iaf  pieambed 
by  the  mcasoiger  <tf  Heavien. 

The  reina  irf  bia  faddle,  the  cropper,  the  girtba,  nod  die 
peytrel,*  were  of  sted  chain;  Q»  Mddk-bows  wei«  of  iran, 
and  Biqtported  two  hooka,  fay  iriiidi  was  fixed  a  ponclmaa 
beam  of  wood,  forty  feet  in  length,  luring  acnas  the  bone's 
mane,  and  intended  to  bear  down,  at  erexf  erohiticBi  of  die 
aninud,  whatever  body  of  oiemiea  mig^  attenqit  to  o^oae 
biB  proeresB.  From  the  Iowa-  part  of  the  nddle-bonra  were 
■nqkenud  on  uie  mde  the  fiiniudable  battle-axe,  always  ao 
fotal  to  tlte  SarwMMM,  and  cm  the  other  a  baaaEn  dnb.  Die 
king,  anayed  in  c^intB  of  steel,  whidi  woe  again  eovsred  by 
a  Gon^lete  coat  of  mail;  fais  hdmet  BannmintBd  by  tiie  dore 
perching  on  a  eron,  the  ^rmbid  of  the  Holy  Ohost;  fakahield, 
emblasTOted  with  three  kt^pank,  on  his  abonUer;  and  benii^ 
in  his  hand  the  ^ear.  on  wfaoae  potat  WM  engranoi  the  Inty 
name  of  God.  only  waited  till  the  tanoB  of  dte  battle  between 
himself  and  Saladin  should  be  pnblicly  read,  and  aMBnted  to 
l^both  parties;  and  then,  springii^  into  the  saddle, set  ^nw 
ta  his  steed,  and  flew  with  the  lapiditr  o£  HHtiriny  to  the 
enoottutar.  ^         " 

Saladin,  throwing  hie  shidd  bdbve  him,   raabed   to  Ae 

chane  with  eqnal  impetuwity;  but  aa  be  busted  innaipally 

to  his  mare,  he  waa  imwillmg  lo  encnmber  binwdf  w^a 

^ear.  aod  otdy  bcwe  in  his  hand  a  bnmd  scymitar,  wiA  iriaoh 

■  Cmtni.  Smm.  •  PaUrail,  Vr.  \m^  iihla 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BICH&KD  CCBTTK  SB   LlOff.  S31 

he  propoBed  to  cut  off  the  heed  of  hia  prcwtiate  enemy.  Tlie 
mare,  mdeed,  exerted  herself  to  the  utmost:  ahe  shook  with 
violence  the  numberless  'bells  with  which  her  bridle  and 
housings  were  completely  covered,  and  neighed  with  all  her 
might;  but  the  colt-fiend,  vrhosc  ears  were  closely  Mopped, 
was  insensible  to  a  noise,  which  almoat  deafened  both  aimiee. 
Fai  from  relating,  he  seemed  to  iocreaee  hie  speed,  and  met 
his  unfortunate  dsni  with  a  shook  which  she  was  not  all  pie- 
pared  to  resist. 

Her  girth  and  bridle  instantly  burst;  she  rolled  on  the 
plain:  at  the  same  time  the  spear  of  Richard  passed  through 
the  serpent  painted  on  the  sultan's  shield,  penetrated  bis  ar- 
mour and  part  of  the  shoulder,  and  threw  hun,  with  his  heels 
in  the  air,  to  a  distance  on  the  plain.  Richard,  without 
further  troubling  himself  about  the  sultan  or  his  mare,  rode 
at  full  speed  into  the  midst  of  the  Saracen  phalanx;  ovenet 
with  his  beam  twenty  unbelieveis  on  each  side  (^  his  saddle; 
and,  whirling  his  battle-axe,  beheaded  or  clove  to  the  chine 
every  enemy  within  his  reach.  The  earl  of  Salisbury,  Doyley, 
Toomeham,  and  his  other  brave  knights  closely  followed,  and 
assisted  in  dissipating  such  of  the  enemy  as  ventured  to  re- 
fflst;  and  Philip,  with  his  Frenchmen,  valiantly  aasailed  the 
fo^tives. 
The  rout  soon  became  general; 

To  tell  the  sooth  inall  thin(^ 

In  the  Oest  aa  we  find. 

That  mo  than  six^  thousind 

Of  empty  steeds  abouten  yode 

Up  to  the  fetlooks  in  blood. 
Li  the  mean  tune,  the  citisens  of  Bal^lon,  seeing  fix>m  their 
walls  the  defeat  of  their  eounbymoi,  opened  their  gates  to 
the  victors;  and  Saladin,  when  recovered  from  his  fell,  seeing 
that  all  was  lost,  set  spurs  to  his  mare,  and  escaped  into  a 
thick  wood,  where  Bichard,  encnmbercd  by  his  beam,  was 
tinable  to  follow  him. 

Of  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon  the  greater  number  eonsenled 
to  be  baptized :  those  who  refiised  were,  as  usual,  put  to  the 
iwoid;  and  the  riches  found  in  the  town  wen  disttibnted 
among  the  conquerors,  who,  after  a  fortnight  raeitt  in  ftasts 
and  rejoicing,  proceeded  coi  their  march  tanaus  Jerusalem, 
dte  leduction  of  which  seoned  to  promiaa  oo  «oniiderable 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


332  X&BLT    2NOI.18H    XETKICAJ.    BOMANCEB. 

But  the  jealousy  subsisting  between  the  rival  monnrcfas  of 
France  and  EnglEuid  broke  out  at  this  time  into  an  open  and 
irreconcileable  quarrel.  Philip  haughtily  insisted  tnat  the 
cily  of  Jerusalem,  hy  whomsoerer  it  might  be  taken,  should 
be  delivered  to  him  as  chief  of  the  Christian  army.  Richard 
taontingly  replied  that  he  most,  in  that  case,  undertake  the 
ai^e  with  lus  own  army.  The  dispute  was  continued  in 
public,  and  in  terms  of  mutual  insult ;  and  Philip  ultimately 
put  an  end  to  it  by  withdrawing  from  the  confederacy.  The 
di£ferent  Christian  chieft  took  part  in  the  dissension;  and 
Bichard,  at  the  head  of  a  discontented  and  divided  army,  pro- 
oeeded  to  Jaffii;  which,  considering  it  as  the  key  of  Pafratiiie, 
be  fortified  with  the  utmost  care,  and  provided  with  a  nume- 
rous and  select  garrison. 

IVom  hence  the  army  proceeded  to  Chaloyn.  which  also  it 
vu  judged  expedient  to  fortify.  Here,  for  the  purpose  of 
hastening  the  works,  Richard  and  the  most  zealous  chieft  of 
the  Christians  took  their  share  of  the  common  labour,  by  car- 
tying  to  the  works  the  supply  of  stone  and  mortar  reqmred 
I^  ue  masons ;  while  the  adherents  of  Philip  expressed  their 
i^ret  ibr  his  absence  by  a  studied  indifierence  to  the  purrees 
of  the  work,  and  by  a  refusal  of  aU  co-operation.  One  of 
these,  the  duke  of  Austria,  being  one  day  met  by  King  Richard 
•nd  leproached  for  his  sloth,  tauntingly  replied, — 
"  My  lather  nas'  mason  ne  carpenter. 

And,  though  your  walls  should  all  to-shake,' 

I  shall  never  help  hem  to  make ! " 
Ute  English  monai«h,    never  veiy  enduring,  was  now 
incensed  to  the  utmost  pitch  of  fury. 

The  duke  with  his  foot  he  smot 

Against  the  breast,  God  it  wot, 

That  on  a  stone  he  him  overthrew; 

It  was  evil  done,  W  Saint  Mathew ! 
He  at  the  same  time  ordered  him  to  deport  instantly,  with 
his  vassals,  from  the  Christian  camp,  threatening  to  break  his 
standard  and  throw  it  into  the  nver ;  and  while  the  duke 
retired,  muttering  prqjects  of  vengeance  which  he  aflenrards 
too  successfully  executed,  Richard  continued  to  follow  him 
with  imprecatitms,  exclaiming — 

^^— —  with  voice  fiUl  steep, 
"  Home!  shrew!  coward!  and  sleepl 
'  Wm  not.  *  Shslia  In  piscts. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BtOHi.BD  C<XVA  BB  LIOV. 


The  duke  of  Borgnnd^,  the  earl  of  Boulogne,  and  all  tlia 
"iblk  of  France,"  having  'withdrawn  themselves  with  the 
dnke  of  Austria,  the  Chnstiaii  anny  «as  much  reduced  in 
numbers :  but  this  diminution  was  in  some  measure  compen- 
sated by  greater  zeal  and  unanimity ;  and  Richard  was  still 
able  to  perserere  with  success  in  his  plan  of  ofibnsivc  opera- 
tions. He  surprised,  at  Castle  Albary,  a  considerable  maga- 
sine  belonging  to  dke  Saracens.  He  then  assaulted  CaMle 
Doronn ;  l£e  garrison  of  which,  ailer  au  obstinate  defence, 
set  fire  to  their  stores  and  retreated  into  the  citadel.  Richard, 
not  wishing  to  preserve  the  place,  completed  the  conflagra- 
tion; so  that  the  enemy,  being  surrounded  by  flames,  were 
compelled  to  surrender  at  discretion. 

His  next  expedition  was  against  GntT}rs;  He  entry  into 
which  was  ma»ed  by  a  very  singular  adventure.  The  gover- 
nor, it  seems,  had  been  in  his  youth  distinguished  for  his 
military  prowess,  but  was  now  incapacitated  by  age  and  infir- 
mity bam  conducting  the  defence  of  the  place'  against  such 
an  adversary  as  was  preparing  to  attack  him.  He  therefore 
had  Tccourae  to  the  following  stratagem,  founded  on  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  Richard's  diaracter : — He  ordered  the  citizens 
to  erect,  in  the  most  conspicuous  part  of  the  town,  a  colossal 
statue  of  marble ;  to  put  a  crown  on  its  head ;  to  salute  it 
witii  all  the  faoneurs  usually  paid  to  himself;  and,  if  ques- 
tioned concerning  their  governor,  to  declare  that  they  had  no 
other  than  Mahonn,  Apolyn,  and  the  statue.  At  die  same 
time  he  directed  that  the  gates  of  the  town  should  be  opened 
at  the  first  summons  of  the  Christians. 

The  event  was  such  as  he  had,  probably,  foreseen.  Richard, 
astonished  at  the  immediate  surrender  of  a  place  where  be 
had  expected  a  long  resistance,  immediately  inquired  after 
the  governor ;  and,  finding  that  it  was  a  statue,  felt  an  irre- 
sistible propennty  ti  ^ht  vrith  that  statue. 

"  O  Saracens!"  said  Richard,  "  without  fiiil. 
Of  your  lord  I  have  mermil ! 
If  I  ma,j,  thorough  my  Lord  so  good, 
That  bought  ua  all  upon  the  rood, 
AVith  a  £aA  break  ms  neck  asunder. 
And  ye  may  sec  that  great  wonder. 


J  t,  Google 


3S4  BAM.T  BialMB  KKTBICAi;  BOH&VCIS. 

■Wm  ye  teve  dl  npon  n^  Lord  ?  " 
•■  Tea!"  they  Hiden  at  one  word. 
He  thrai  took  hi*  rtroogest  qie«r.  which,  as  a  farfier  pte- 
,;,„tM»,  was  Btrengtbened  with  plata  of  mm;  leaped  on 
Fk*d  irf  Cypcns ;  took  his  distance ;  chai^  his  marble  anta- 
KoniBt  at  foil  speed ;  stnidc  him  in  the  midst  of  Ae  feoe,  and 
bMt  off  his  head,  whidi  crashed  two  Saraceiw  by  its  ML 
the  dtiEeas  were  all  baptized ;  the  real  gorenkor  waa  prcv 
doced,  and  rewarfed  lor  the  joke  by  the  restoration  of  bis 

TTie  diristians  now  letnn^  to  Chaloyn,  ttvaa  whence  thef 
inarched  against  Cbstle  Leffdnyde.  the  garnBoa  of  wfaich 
sbandooed  it  m  their  appniach,  and  then  won  by  ananlt  the 
post  of  Gybelin,  fiwmerly  occupied  by  the  Templars  and  Hoa- 
utakTS,  and  distinguished  by  the  buth  eS  St.  Anne.  Here 
&dMrd  was  met  hy  messengers  from  England,  who  informed 
him  dut  his  brotbCT  John,  having  expelled  the  chancellw 
fiom  tte  garemment,  was  pieparing  to  seize  the  crown,  bat 
he  diabdieTcd  the  intdligence.  and  continued  hie  progress  to 
Bethany,  where,  as  nsoai.  he  exterminated  a  nnmbcr  (tf  unbe- 
licTKB.  A  cfl&firmatioa  oT  the  ftKiner  news  haying  nuet  him 
at  tlus  place,  he  began  to  think  serionsly  of  returning  to  his 
domtnicns :  being  informed,  however,  by  a  Saracen,  captive. 
Hut  a  convoy  o?  two  thoosond  camf^  laden  with  treasure, 
and  escorted  by  a  luge  body  of  troopB,  woie  pasai^  to  Sala^ 
din's  camp,  be  pat  himself  at  the  head  of  a  few  chosen  knights, 
and  overtook  the  enemy  before  day-break ;  bat,  disdaining  to 
take  advantage  of  a  surprise,  iraited  for  tbem  in  battle  anay, 
attacked  and  dispersed  the  escort,  and  carried  off  the  wbtde 
convoy  to  Bethany. 

Here  he  iras  met  by  the  bishop  of  Chester,  and  the  abbot 
<^St.  Albans,  who  had  been  deputed  In- the  barons  to  state  to 
him  the  rcbelUon  of  his  broth^',  and  the  irmption  of  Philip 
into  Normandy.  Bich^rd  therefore  was  ccnnpeQed  to  prepare 
tor  his  departure ;  but,  being  anxions  for  the  fotnrc  success 
of  the  Christians,  left  at  J«&  a  chosen  garrison  of  fifteen 
thousand  men,  conunanded  by  officers  on  whom  he  could 
aafely  rely,  together  with  provisions  soffiaent  to  secme  them 
against  all  danger  &om  a  blockade;  after  which  he  repaired 
to  Acre,  where  he  meant  to  station  the  imnainder  of  his  army 
mtfl  his  return,  vrfaen  he  ht^ied  to  ad^eve  ibx  original  olject 
oftbe  enterprise. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


aiOHASD  oaos  m  umr.  SS3 

The  news  of  hia  wtende^  departore  was  carried  to  Saladin 
at  a  moment  whca  ihat  moaaicV  incensed  st  the  lo8a  of  his 
treasore,  had  collected  an  almost  innmnerable  ajray  fbr  the 
puipose  of  rerenging  his  toss  and  cniahing  the  enemy  at  one 
blow.  lie  might  have  iuBmed  the  suocew  of  his  operations 
by  waiting  for  the  abaeuce  of  his  fbrmtdable  antagonist:  but 
Jaffii,  already  well  fortified,  and  garrisoned  by  a  little  army, 
might  in  a  short  time  be  rendered  almost  impregmLble; 
whereas,  if  it  were  now  recovered,  all  the  future  efforts  of  the 
CJhristianB  to  obtain  possessiou  of  Palestine  would  be  rendered 


nnntoty. 
The  autl 


e  author  of  Hie  romance  has  exerted  all  his  powers  in 
giTing  importance  to  this  great  and  final  conflict.  He  has 
ushered  in  his  description  by  a  separate  prologue,  in  whicJi 
he  introduces  all  the  heroes  of  real  and  &bulouB  history,  for 
die  sole  purpose  of  asserting  tlie  superiority  of  bis  &vourite 
Richard.  'Hie  Saracens,  be  savs,  occupied  a  space  of  twen^ 
miles  in  length  by  five  in  deptji ;  the  whole  horizoD  gleamed 
with  the  bltue  of  their  weaponB,and  it  appeared 
As  it  had  fro  heaven  light 
Among  the  swords  that  were  so  bright. 
Hie  Christians  in  Ja^  thoogh  assailed  by  meh  a  countless 
multitude,  defended  themselves  with  vigour  and  effect ;  th^ 
made  a  dreadful  carnage  among  the  besiegeiB;  but  "it  &red, 
says  the  romance,  "  as  they  out  of  the  ground  were  waxen" 
and  the  traces  of  slaughter  were  instantly  e&ced  by  the  influx 
of  fresh  combatants.  The  garrison,  covered  with  the  blood 
of  their  enemies,  and  exhausted  by  fatigue,  were  at  length 
compelled  to  retire  into  the  citadel,  from  whence,  under  cover 
<^  the  night,  they  dispatched  mewengers  to  Richard  vrith  an 
account  of  their  situation.  The  king,  conceiving  the  report 
of  the  messengers  to  be  much  exaggerated,  contented  himself 
with  sending  a  strong  detachment  to  their  relief  under  the 
command  of  his  nephew,  Henry  of  Champagne ;  but  the  duke 
had  no  sooner  beheld  the  numbers  of  the  Saracens'  army,  than 
he  retnmed  with  precipitation. 

And  said,  "  he  ne  saw  never,  ne  heard 
In  all  this  wide  middel-erd,' 
Halfin-deal*  the  people  of  men, 
That  Saladin  has,  by  down  and  den, 
iEbUuSu.  ^UmB. 


uL,  Google 


336  E1.SLT   XKOLIBH  lIZTBtClX  SOIUSOBt. 

"  No  tongue,"  he  mdi,  "  may  hem  leQ ! 

I  ween  they  comen  out  of  heQ!" 

Then  angwered  King  Richard, 
"  PV!  a  debles!' Tile  coward! 

Shall  I  never,  by  God  above, 

Tnuten  nato  Fmich-man's  love?" 
After  nukiiig  the  duke  reeponHible  for  all  the  inconvcDi- 
tmoes  that  might  arise  in  consequence  of  the  delay,  Richard 
hastily  ordered  out  his  galleys ;  embarked  a  chosen  body  of 
troops  with  all  possible  expedition,  steered  to  Jaffa,  and  after 
a  short  and  prosperous  navigation  cast  anchor  under  the  walls 
of  the  citadel. 

It  was  before  the  high  mid-night, 

(The  moon  and  the  stars  shone  bright) 

King  Richard  into  Jafie  was  come, 

WitD  his  galleys,  all  and  some.* 

Ihey  looked  up  to  the  castel ; 

They  heard  no  pipe,  no  fiagel !  * 

They  drew  hem  nigh  to  the  land, 

If  they  mighten  understand, 

And  tiiey  ne  could  nought  espic, 

Ne  by  no  voice  of  minstralcie 

That  quick  man  in  the  castle  were : 

King  Richard  then  becom  full  of  care. 
"  Alas,"  he  said,  "  that  I  was  bom ! 

Hy  good  barons  ben  tbrlom ! 

Slain  is  Robert  of  Leycester, 

That  was  mine  own  courteous  maister! 

nk  limb  of  him  was  worth  a  knight ! 

And  Robert  Toumeham,  that  was  so  wight. 

And  Sir  Bertram,  and  Sir  Pipard. 

In  battle  that  were  wise  and  hard. 

And  also  mine  other  barons. 

The  best  in  all  Christendom, 

They  ben  slain  and  fbrlore. 

How  may  I  longer  live  therefore? 

Had  I  been  in  time  comen  hither, 

I  might  have  saved  altt^^ether. 

Till  1  be  wreken  of  Saladine, 

Certes,  my  joy  ahalll  tyne ! "  * 
'  Jm  HMt.'  Tt.      >AUmd  imt,  ererj  one.      ■  Tligdet.      *  Lom. 

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KICSAHD  C<£DB  DE  LICIT.  337 

tbua  wailed  King  Richard  aye, 
TiU  it  were  spring  of  the  day. 
A  wait'  there  come,  in  a  Icemel,* 
And  piped  a  nott'  in  a  flogeL 
He  ne  piped  but  one  sythe,* 
He  made  many  an  heiut  blithe ! 
He  looked  down  and  xaw  the  galley 
Of  King  Richard,  and  his  naTey : 
Ships  and  galleys  well  he  knew. 
TTien  &  merrier  note  he  blew. 
And  piped  "Seigneurs,  or  bos!  or  mis. 
Kii^;  Richard  is  comen  to  us'." 
The  ioyftil  tidings  were  eoon  spread  through  the  citadel; 
the  besieged  greeted  the  return  of  their  soTereign  with  shouts 
of  welcome,  which  were  answered  from  the  fleet ;  and  Richard, 
leaping  on  shore,  followed  by  the  crews  of  the  nearest  veseeb, 
instanUy  attacked  the  enemy,  who  were  utterly  unprepared 
for  such  an  assault. 

"We  have,"  he  said,  "life  but  one 
Sell  we  it,  both  flesh  and  bone, 
For  to  claim  our  heritnge ! " 
The  avenues  of  the  town  being  aU  unguarded,  the  Saracens 
were  attacked  on  every  side  and  slaughtered  without  opposi- 
tion.    They  fled  in  ctmfusion  through  the  Kates;  and,  when 
these  were  choked  by  the  crowd  of  iugibves,  precipitated 
themselves  in  numbers  from  the  walls,  exclaiming— 
"The  KTigliah  devil  yeomen  is! 
Oiff  he  us  meet,  we  shall  die ; 
Flee  we  fast  out  of  his  way  I" 
Richard,  as  soon  as  he  could  collect  and  marshal  his  troops, 
and  take  the  necessary  measures  for  the  security  of  the  town, 
sallied  forth  in  punuit  of  the  enemy,   whom  he  overtook 
before  they  could  recover  from  their  confusion,  and  again 
routed  with,  dreadful  slaughter;  the  Chriatiaas,  says  the  ro- 
mance, slaying  the  enemy 

■  all  BO  swythe 

As  grass  falleth  fro  the  soy&e. 
Tlie  imrsuit  had  now  lasted  till  the  approach  of  ni^;  and 
Bichard,  weary  witli  slaughter,  ordered  nis  tents  to  be  pitdied. 


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SS8  XARI.T  CXCLISH  HETBICIX  SOIURCBS. 

intending  in  the  mcming  to  attack  dte  mam  amrctfSalKtin; 
iriuck,  being  weakened  by  the  loss  of  thirty  thoonnd  men, 
mnild.  he  hoped,  be  easily  dispersed.  He  was  therefore  not 
a  little  Euipriaed  when,  b^ng  at  sn^^per  with  faia  barons,  he 
was  sahited  br  two  amhanadcoB  froin  Saladin,  who,  ali^itiiig 
from  their  mules,  and  marching  hand  in  hmiH  into  ^i*  tent, 
gravdj  adrised  him  to  shorten  nis  meal,  aad  to  lebcat,  while 
it  was  yet  time,  within  the  walls  of  Jafi.  They  assured  him 
that  their  king  was  at  hand  with  an  army  whoae  weight  &e 
eaith  was  Bcarcely  aUe  to  mpnort;  that,  afto'  oontemplating 
its  nnmheTB  from  the  walls  of  his  dtadd,  he  mi^t  calmly 
decide  whether  it  was  more  adrisahle  to  abide  a  siege,  in  tlte 
hope  of  future  snccoor,  w  to  desist  at  once  from  his  vain  pre- 
tensions to  a  dominion  which  be  was  imalde  to  acquire,  and 
letnm,  as  he  would  still  be  pennitted  to  do,  into  his  own  ter- 


In  anger  Ridkatd  took  up  a  km^ 

And  in  his  hands  it  all  to-rofe;* 

And  nid  to  that  Saia^n, 
"God  gire  ibee  well  evil  |Kiie? 

And  Saladineytmr  lotd. 

The  devil  him  faan^  widi  a  cord ! " 
and  afleri^aia  i^aecating  on  an  the  Saiacess,  general!)' and 
JadiTtdiiaDy,  the  "csrae  of  aweet  Jesoa,"  declared  himsrif 
ready  to  taxxmOts.  stngtr,  any  numben  that  Saladin  miriit 
b^ahle  to  bring  into  the  field.  The  ambMsadon,  m>alde  to 
obtain  a  max  eoorteoas  answer,  retnmed  to  Saladin,  and 
Ittdwrd  retired  to  sie^ 

In  the  manmg  be  waa  awakeoed  %  an  aagd,  who  ttdd 
lum  to  nse  and  manhal  faia  army  wilbant  low  at  time-  to 
e»t  eror  effiart  far  the  pupoae  of  enttine  his  way  bat^  to 
^'cl^.  ■*****'»'***« ''^'^  l»»*»e.  t»  mafa  a  traee 
with  Saladm  and  retain  to  Englaod.  wfaoe  hia  preaenee  ms 
indwpe—aMy  neoeaMrr.  *^ 

RifAard,  stana^  fcin  faia  bed.  inatamh- edied  fiw  his  anna. 
*ndJte^pmg  c«  his  fcTOorite  hone.  FaVd  of  Crona,  ^Sb 
Aroogh  ti|e  «nks  of  his  litUe  aroy.  i^j^  ^2*^^^? 

^^^  ,  r  .      'T^  netwwn  the  ChratiaBi   and  thp 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


SICKABD  OCBTFS  DX  IIOIT.  SS9 

cily,  an  extent  of  jomj  miles,  waa  oocapied  and  completely 
covered  by  the  enemy,  vhoee  nsmbers  rauu>kd  tliem  to  employ 
one  anny  in  the  aaaault  of  the  citadel,  while  anothd^r,  etill 
more  formidfible,  opposed  the  march  of  Richard.  £tis  little 
corps,  BuiTOunded  and  haxaeeed  on  all  sides,  were  perfectly 
aware  of  their  peril ;  bat  they  were  vetaWs,  highly  dia. 
ciplined,  inured  to  the  climate,  ixuifidcait  in  themselves  and  in 
tiieir  leader,  and  animated  at  once  by  despair  and  enthosiasia : 
while  the  Saraoens,  chiefly  composed  of  new  IcTiea,  would 
have  been  easily  defeated,  had  not  the  iugitives  been  con- 
stantly  driven  baeit  on  the  swords  f^  the  OhrutianH,  by  the 
multitudes  rudiiag  on  to  share  in  a  battle  of  which  they  had 
never  felt  the  dai^r.  Kichard,  as  usual,  was  alwi^  m  tlte 
thickest  part  of  the  press  (crowd) : 

They  gunnen  on  him  as  thick  to  fleen. 

As  out  of  the  hive  doth  the  been; 

And,  with  his  ok,  down  he  swepe 

Of  the  Saracens,  as  bear  doth  uieep. 
His  efforts  being  constant  and  unrelated,  he  must  have 
been  ultimately  crushed  and  stifled  by  the  crowds  of  assail-' 
Bnts;  but  perceifing  a  marsh  and  lake  on  one  side  of  his  line 
of  march,  ne  sudd^y  collected  a  part  of  his  cavalry,  and, 
Tnnirinp  ^  drcadful  cbaFge  in  l^t  direction,  drove  a  column, 
of  the  enemy  before  him  into  the  water,  and  thus  [Kvcnred  a 
tampoisry  respite.  ' 

TTiB  numb^  of  the  slain  and  drowned  amounted  at  riiw 
time,  says  the  romance,  to  at  least  siz^  thon«an<d;  and  yet 
the  Saracen  army  apprared  unimpaired;  and  the  ChristiflDB 
were  sommoned  to  new  exertions  oy  the  danger  of  Henry  of 
CStanqta^e,  who  was  unhorsed,  and  on  the  point  of  being 
made  {msoner.  This  anfintunate  accident  occasioned  a  long 
and  severe  coutest,  which  terminated  to  tJie  odvanta^  of  the 
ChristJans,  who  resoied  the  duke;  but  Bidard,  in  his  seal  to 
xevenge  his  nephew,  forgot,  for  a  time,  the  instructions  of  the 
angel,  and  the  necessity  of  diredang  his  whole  ttace  against 
the  army  which  still  excluded  him  &om  the  gates  of  Jaflb, 
and  which  b;  tiiis  time  had  neady  sooceoded  in  aasanlting  the 
citadel. 

He  was  now  in&ffmed  by  a  messenger  who  had  with  diffi* 
cuhy  miade  his  way  throng  the  enemy,  that  tlce  ganiaon, 
ohansted  by  fetigue,  we»  neorfy  incapable  of  further  lentt- 
once,  and  that  the  gwtM  w«ce  in  dames ;  adding, 

z  2 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


340  UXLT  xireusH  uxmau.  boxahcbs. 

"litad,  of  tbee  I  have  gTMt  doubt; 

For  ye  may  noi^t  to  Uie  city  lide^ 

In  fi«ld  what  aTentore  you  betide  i 

And  I  you  wame,  withouten  fidl, 

Mickle  KfMired*  is  your  batail. 

The  patnarck  y-tuien  ie. 

And  John  the  Keal  ia  slain,  y-wis, 

WiUiaiii  Aisoor,  and  Sir  Gerard, 

Berbam  Braundys,  tby  good  Lombard; 

Tfacy  are  slain  and  many  mo! " 
Bichard,  at  this  moumiul  intelligence,  repented  his  impru- 
dence, and,  checking  the  pnisnit,  inetantly  turned  his  whole 
force  against  the  besieging  army.  But  the  Saracens,  a4are 
that  the  capture  of  the  town  would  ensure  their  victory, 
assailed  him  with  unceasing  fury,  and  had  even  the  good 
fortune  to  slay  under  him  his  &vourite  horae,  the  celebrated 
Favel  of  Cypnis.  The  triumph  of  the  infidels  now  appeared 
to  be  secDie ;  and  the  only  craitcst  among  their  chiefs  was  fi>r 
ibe  honour  of  killing  or  taking  prisoner  the  formidable  Cceur 
de  lion.  Two  Saracen  knights,  whom  the  romance  calls  the 
sons  of  Saladin,  directed  their  spears  against  him,  haugfatify 
ordering  him  to  surrender;  bnt  he  answered  by  cutting  t^ 
theheadof  the  first  who  came  within  his  reach;  and,  thou^ 
wounded  in  the  arm  by  the  second  with  an  envenomed  spear* 
toon  brought  him  also  to  the  ground.  Five  other  chicfteius, 
and  some  hundreds  of  private  men,  successively  fell  under  the 
axe  of  Richard ;  who,  though  on  loot,  appeared  to  have  lost 
nothing  of  his  superiority,  and  at  last  opened  to  himself  a 
passage  through  the  enemy,  and  anived  at  the  gates  of  the 
cifodel. 

The  fate  of  the  day  was  now  de<aded.  A  fi«sh  horse,  the 
&mouB  Lyard,  was  bronght  to  Richard,  who,  immediately 
■allying  out,  attended  ij  3ie  fiower  of  the  chivaliy,  threw  the 
enemy  into  irrelxievable  confiiHon.  The  pursuit  lasted  till 
ni^t ;  the  loss  of  the  infidels  was  computed  at  two  hundred 
thousand  men;  and  the  Christians,  returning  wearied  with 
slaughter,  passed  the  night  in  thanksgiving  fis  tiiis  great  and 
almost  miraculous  victory. 

On  the  following  day  King  Richard  dispatched  Sir  Robert 

fiaville.  Sir  Hubert,  Su-  Wmiam  de  WatteviUe,  Sir  Robert 

Toumdiain,  Sir  Walter  Gifflid,  and  Sir  John  St.  Jdm,  to  the 

'  bijared;  impaind. 


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SICKABS   CfECB    DX  LIOIT.  341 

eollai),  -witli  propoetils  for  a  trace  during  three  yean,  on  tlte 
terms  suggested  hy  the  angel;  to  whicn  howerer  be  added, 
on  his  own  part,  the  ofibr  of  deciding  their  pretemdona  by  a 
doel,  in  wbich  he,  singly,  should  be  opposed  to  five  and 
twenty  knights  selected  fiom  the  aimiea  of  Saladin.  The 
sultan  consented  to  the  truce  without  insisting  on  the  duel,  < 
and  the  articleB  were  ratified  on  the  fiillowing  day. 

Tho  afterword,  all  the  three  year, 
Cbristion  men,  both  for  and  near, 
Yedcn  the  way  to  Jerusalem, 
To  the  sepulchre,  and  to  Betblem, 
To  Olivet,  and  to  Nazarel, 
And  to  Imaus  castel. 
And  to  all  other  pilgrimage, 
'Witbouten  harm  or  damage. 
King  Richard,  doughly  of  hand. 
Turned  homeward  to  England. 
King  Sichard  reigned  here 
Xo  more  but  ten  year. 
tiithen,  he  was  shot,  alas ! 
In  castel  Qoillard  there  he  was. 
Thus  ended  Richard  our  king : 
God  give  us  all  good  ending! 
And  nis  soul  rest  and  roo,' 
And  our  souls,  when  we  come  thereto! 
Amen.     Eiplicit 
>  Bmke,  RpoK,  Gaman. 


giiizcdt, Google  ■ 


BOMAXOES  BBLATiNG  TO  OHAELEilAONE. 


We  have  seen  that  all  tbe  romantic  bistoriea  concenung 
Arthur  aod  hie  knighte  arc  profeaaedly  deriTed  from  the  Brut 
or  chronicle  traualatcd  by  Geoffi^y  of  Monmouth ;  and  in  like 
manner  the  trouTRun  and  minsli^lB  who  have  composed  tlie 
&bnlou8  story  of  Charlemagne  end  Mb  twelve  peers,  as  veil 
as  Uie  Italians  who  haTC  iiniteted  and  improved  on  their  in- 
ventionB,  uniformly  appeal  to  the  history  written  by  Arch- 
bishop Turpin,'  the  contemporary  and  friend  of  Charlemagne. 
i-This  absurd  chronicle  was  composed  before  1122,  with  the 
^  title  "  Joannis  Turpini  historia  de  vita  Carol!  Magni  et  Ro- 
land!," and  it  may  be  presumed  that  the  M^.  of  aueh  a  his- 
tory were  formerly  very  numerous,  though  it  appears  to  have 
principally  derived  its  popularity  from  its  French  metrical 
puraphrases  and  imitations,  some  of  which  were  probably  of 
almost  equal  antiquity  with  the  original,  and  are  alluded  to 
by  the  subsequent  prose  translators. 

The  earliest  of  these,  according  to  Fanchet,  was  written  by 
a  certain  Jehans,  who,  at  the  instance  of  Kc^nault,  comte  de 
Boul<^e  and  de  Daumortin  (then  detained  as  a  prisoner  by 
Philippe  Augusts),  turned  into  French  prose  a  Latin  copy  ot 
Tuipm  which  he  fbund  in  the  aivhives  of  St.  Denis.  A  copy 
of  this  work  is  still  preserved  in  MS.  in  Bibl.  Reg.  4  C.  xi. 

The  next  translation  was  made  by  Gaguin.  It  is  dedicated 
to  Francis  I,  and  was  printed  at  Paris  in  1527,  quarto. 

There  is  a  Latin  paraphrase  of  the  original  in  hexameters,  ' 
many  of  which  rhyme  to  eadi  other,  entitled  Korolettus,  and 
preserved  in  Bibl,  Reg.  13  A.  xviii. 

The  original  work  was  first  printed  in  a  collection  entitled 
"  GFermanicarum  rerum  qnatuor  chronoBraphi,"  Frankfort, 
1666,  folio. 

Another  pretended  French  translation  was  aiterwards  pub- 
lished at  ^ons  in  1683,  octavo,  with  the  tiUe  of  "  La  diro- 
ni<jue  de  Turpin,  archevesque  vt  duo  de  Rheims,  et  premier 
pair  de  Franec,"  This,  however,  which  Ritson  supposes 
to  be  the  work  ascribed  by  Warton  to  Michael  le  Hames, 


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CHA>£ZtCAGHZ  BOMAHCXS.  S48 

who  lired  in  &e  time  of  Philippe  A-agaete,  oonlains,  aa  he 
tells  va,  tlie  romance  of  Renana  de  Moatauban,  and  not  that 
of  Roland.  Feriiaps  it  may  be  &  converaion  into  prow  of  the 
metncal  romance  on  the  same  subject,  written,  as  Fauchet 
informs  xa,  by  Huon  de  Villenenve,  about  the  commencement 
of  the  fourteenth  ccntuiy. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  nuroberteM  ^ 
^les  concerning  Charlemagne  were  grafted  on  (he  narrative 
of  the  supposed  Turpin;  and.  indeed,  his  branslator  6agn!n 
appean  to  im  almost  asbained  of  the  imperfect  nannttivB  con- 
tained in  his  ordinal,  and  is  yeiy  eolicitoas  to  excuse  liimaglf 
for  snppreeaing  many  particulars  concemii^  his  hero,  which, 
though  very  necessary  to  be  known,  the  anhbishm  had  not 
thoiwht  fit  to  notice,  llius,  after  mentioning  (cap.  26) 
Olivier,  Oondebault  roy  de  Frigie,  Ogier  rov  de  Diumemarc. 
Arcstaigne  loy  de  Bretaigne,  Ouarin  due  de  Lorraine,  and 
others,  he  refers  ns  to  "leurs  histoires  plus  au  long  descriptes, 
lesqnellee  je  laisse  pour  le  present  i  ceux  qui  lisent  les 
romans,  livres,  et  autrea  escriptures:"  and  in  lus  concluding 
chapter  he  gives  ne  a  sketch  of  some  important  events,  which, 
if  he  had  thou^t  fit,  he  could  have  communicated  more  at 
laige.  We  mi^t  have  been  told,  it  seems.  "  comme  Qalafi«, 
amiral  de  la  viUe  de  Tolede,  le  para  et  adoina  de  I'habit  mili- 
taire,  du  temps  qu'il  estoit  en  son  enfimce  mis  en  esO;  et  le 
tint  en  son  palus;  et  comment  auaei  le  diet  Charlemagne, 
poor  Tamour  du  dessos  diet  Oalafre,  tua  puis  api^  et  mist  & 
mort  par  bataille  le  grant  Btacinant,  qui  estoit  mi  roy  tr^a 
fier  et  tres  orgoeillenx  dee  meecr^ana  et  infidelles,  d'iceh^ 
Galafre  mortels  ennemis.  Vons  povea  avoir  otti  rtciier  cette 
bataille  merveillense.ou.vous  I'avez  veupar  eteripl  en  aidcuni 
autiee  livres,  et  pourtant  je  m'en  toyse.  Je  laisserai  scmblo- 
hicmentla  maoiere  comment  le  noble  CJiarlemagne,  conquesta 
et  acqnirt  terree  diverses,  villes  et  ctt^  par  m  v^lantise  et 
proueaae;  et  les  assubjectist  au  nom  de  la  Trinity,  Pere,  Fils, 
et  saint  Esprit.  £t  ainsi  comment  il  institna  per  le  monde 
maintea  abbayes,  be.  &c.  Et  comment  il  fut  &ict  empereur 
de  Rome,  oalu  (comme  je  crois)  divinement  et  par  la  grace  de 
Dien;  et  alia  en  la  sainteterre  voir  et  visiter  le  saint  sepulchre 
de  N.  8.  en  monlte  grandc  devotion  de  cueur  et  rfevfa^nce ;  et 
comment  il  apporta  aveo  lui  le  sainct  bois  precieulx  de  la 
croix  de  Jeeus  Christ,  oA  it  pendit  pour  notre  redemption,  par 
Icsquelles  choses  il  enrichist  mamlea  e^isee.     Toutea  oea 


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344  XlSLr   ZVGLIBH  KKTBICAI.  BOVUTCU. 

cIkwm  ai  laisseea  jwr  brie/iiaU,  et  aussi  que  Toiu  lea  aves  pea 
voir  aiUeim  et  en  ploaieiirB  livres,  Stc." 

That  such  absurdities  aa  tiwse  should  be  aooepted  in  lieu  of 
'  authentic  hiatoiy  in  a  credulous  age,  and  where  better  mate- 
rials could  not  be  had,  would  excite  no  astonishment ;  bnt  it 
is  Tery  surprising  that  for  a  lengtli  of  time  they  should  hare 
UBurped  the  place  of  the  numerous  historical  documents  which 
record  the  glory  of  a  Charlemagne,  whose  diaracter,  when  left 
to  the  Bob^  Toice  of  troth,  is  &r  more  amiable  and  respect- 
able than  than  that  of  his  ideal  and  romantic  sabstitute.  In 
&ct,  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  name  of  ChaHe- 
tnagne  was  first  introduced  bj  mistake  into  a  series  of  fictitxis, 
of  which  the  real  hero  was  of  «  still  earlier  date;  and  it  is  the 
opinion  of  Leyden,  an  author  of  much  research  and  iufw- 
mation,  thfit  the  origin  of  these  fictions  is  to  be  sou^t  in 
fititany.     I  shall  give  his  sentiments  in  his  owa  words: 

"  That  class  of  romances  which  relates  to  Charlemagne 
and  h!s  twelve  peers,  ought  probably  to  be  referred  to  the 
same  source;  since  they  ascribe  to  that  French  monarch  the 
feats  which  were  performed  by  an  Aimorican  chie£  llie 
gnuid  source  from  which  the  fiibulons  history  of  Charlemagne 
is  thought  to  be  derived,  is  the  supposititious  history  ascribed 
to  his  contemporary  Turpin,  whicui,  in  1122,  was  declared  to 
be  genuine  by  papu  authority.  The  history  of  this  work  is 
extremely  obscure;  but,  as  it  contains  an  account  of  the  pil- 
grim^ of  Charlemagne  to  Jerusalem,  its  composition  must 
have  been  posterior  to  the  Crusades.  The  abbe  Vclley  has 
shown  that  the  principtd  events  which  figure  in  the  romantic 
histoiy  of  that  monarch  have  no  relation  to  him  whatever, 
&oudi  they  are  historically  true  of  the  Armorican  chieftain, 
Charlea  MarteL  It  was  this  hero,  whose  &ther  was  named 
Fepin,  and  who  had  four  sons,  who  performed  various  exploits 
in  the  forest  of  Ardenne  against  the  four  sons  of  Aymon;  who 
warred  ogsinst  the  Saxons;  who  conquered  the  Sancens  at 
Foictiers;  it  was  he  who  instituted  on  order  of  Imighthood, 
who  deposed  the  duke  of  Aquitaine,  and  who  conferred  the 
donation  of  the  sacred  territory  on  the  see  of  Rome.  Is  it 
not  therefore  more  probable  that  the  history  and  exploits. of 
this  hero  should  be  celebrated  by  the  minstrela  of  his  native 
country,  than  that  they  should  be,  for  the  first  time,  narrated 
by  a  dull  prosing  modi  some  centuries  aAer  his  death?  la 
it  not  more  probable,  that  when  the  &me  of  Cliarles  Uartd 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


0K1.BI.EIU.0HE. aOHAlfOES.  345 

had  been  eolipeed  by  the  renown  of  Charlemagne,  the  monUib 
ftbridger  of  the  aonga  of  the  minstrels  should  transfer  the 
deeds  of  the  one  to  Ihe  other  by  an  error  of  stupidity,  than 
that  he  shoold  have  deliberately  fitlnRed  huttory  when  he  had 
no  purpose  to  aem  ?  The  ingenions  author  to  whom  I  bare 
already  referred  seems  to  hare  pointed  out  the  source  of  this 
error.'  In  the  Annoric  language  mtur  signifies  great,  maynt; 
and  marra  a  mattock,  martel;  so  that,  instead  of  Chnrle- 
magce  and  Charles  Uwiel,  we  bare  Cbkrlemenr  and  Cbarlfr- 
morra,  names  which,  from  the  similarity  of  sound,  might 
easily  be  confounded.  A  aimilar  blunder  has  been  committed 
1^  the  Norman  trouveur,  who  tmnHferred  the  cbamctcristic 
epithet  of  Caradoc,  from  the  Welsh  or  Atmorican,  to  the 
Romance  language."  * 

Leyden  afterwards  mentions,  in  confirmation  of  bis  con- 
jecture, the  allusion  in  Turpin's  history  to  a  song  or  poem 
concerning  Oell  or  Uowel,  uie  Breton  e&rl,  "  de  hoc  canitur 
in  cantilena  usque  ad  hodiemum  diem;"  and  it  may  not  per- 
haps be  irrelerant  to  add  that  Roland,  the  principal  actor  in 
these  romances,  is  taken  irom  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Bre- 
tagne.  "The  domain  of  these  British  princes,"  enys  D'An- 
ville  (Etats  de  I'Europe,  p.  77),  "was  confined,  to  speak 
genemlly,  to  what  is  properly  called  Lower  Britany,  and  to 
the  territory  formerly  occupied  by  the  Veneti  and  hy  the 
Osismii.  Upper  Britany,  comprehending  the  territories  of 
the  antient  B^ones  and  Namnetes,  was  a  frontier  country  op- 
posed to  the  lands  of  the  Bretons;  and  the  &mauB  Ktuand, 
nephew  of  Charlemagne  and  count  of  Angers,  commanded 
diere."  Possibty  too  the  terrible  Ferragus  may  be  a  giant  of 
Celtic  origin:  for  Selden  has  told  us,*  that  the  war-song  in 
use  amongst  the  Irish  kerns  was  called  Pharroh;  and  the 
Tulfar  Irish,  as  Mr.  Walker  intbrms  us,  suppose  the  subject 
of  this  song  to  have  been  Forroch  or  Ferragh,  a  terrible  giant, 
of  whom  they  tell  many  a  marrellons  tnle.'  By  the  way,  it  is 
to  be  lamented  that  the  Irish  antiquaries,  many  of  whom  seem 
to  be  well  versed  in  their  early  language,  should  neglect  to 
give  ns  a  series  of  their  ancient  popular  tales,  with  a  simplo 
and  literal  T-^gH'h  translation. 

'  Enqolnr,  No.  xii.  mp.  MonthlrMiB.  VM.  1800. 

'  Pralim.  Dinert.  to  the  Compt^t  of  Scotland,  p.  9(3. 

■  Dnjton'i  PalfoUdon,  Song  6. 

*  Hiitoriol  Menioin  of  \rah  Bardf,  fee    haaioa,  1786. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


ROLAND    AJTO    FBKRAGUS. 


in  an;  oilier  Uun  Out  Aadiinlcck  MS.,  from  which  ■ 
to  ma  by  m;  ftund  Sir  W.  Scott.  Sonu  Una  lit  tlic  beginning  bare  been 
ton  oat,  but  it  tppeaittabeotlienrinpnfeet;  and,  ttwofb  not  renuik- 
^U«  Ibr  poalicil  merit,  ii  lo  far  ooriodi  that  it  pnaente  ni  with  a  lolttvbly 
UlUal  ooapeodlnM,  ••  br  u  it  goai,  of  Ilia  aippaaad  nujrin'i  htatofj. 


Tbb  poem  b^ins  by  a  eutgular  error  in  chronolt^,  wUch, 
howerer,  was  not  p^iiapa  very  likely  to  startle  Ihe  readers  to 
irtMHn  it  was  addreaeed. 

An  hundred  winters  it  was,  and  tliree, 
Ktlien  God  died  upon  the  tree. 

That  Charies  the  king 
'Bad  all  France  in  hia  hand, 
Denmark  and  En^and, 

Withotiten  any  lesing; 
Lorraine  and  Lombardy, 
Oaaeogae,  Bayonne.  and  Kcardic, 

Was  till  his  bidding; 
And  emperor  he  was  of  Rome, 
And  lord  of  all  ChriBtendOm; 
Then  was  he  a  high  lordli^. 
Having  disposed  of  so  many  kingdoms  to  Chariemogne,  the 
antiior  had  few  to  spare  for  the  other  European  BovereignB : 
aoooidingly,  he  mentions  on]y  two;  namely,  Constantius, 
emperor  of  Constantinople,  and  Ibrahun,  king  of  Spain.  This 
Ibrahim  was  a  strennoufl  P^an,  who  persecuted  the  Chris- 
tians without  mOTcy,  and  banished  the  patriarch  of  Jerusalem. 
Hie  poor  patriarch  made  his  complaint  to  Constantius,  who 
on  his  put  made  his  comploiut  to  Heaven,  and  was  rewarded 
6a  his  piety  by  a  visit  flnnn  an  angel,  who  directed  him  to 
Bend  an  aocomit  of  this  outrage  to  Charles  the  Conqueror, 
assuring  him  that  through  the  nuonr  of  this  "doughty  kn^ht" 
the  Saracens  would  be  ultimately  discomfited.  Constantius 
lost  no  time  in  dispatching  his  ambassadors,  and  they  hod  the 
good  fortune  to  find  Charlemagne  at  Borne,  where  having 
delivered  their  oredentialB  and  kined  his  hand,  they  so  e&s* 
tually  wrought  on  him  by  their  eloquence,  that  he  resolved  to 
Ht  out,  without  loss  of  time,  on  a  visit  to  Ccnurtsntinople. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BOLAin>  A-iKo  VEBaious.  347 

The  Greek  emperor,  aa  may  be  supposed,  received  hin  noble 
TiaitcH:  ■wiOi  every  possible  deminu&atii>n  of  respect,  and 
oSered  him  in.  proAi^on  die  presente  usual  on  such  occasions, 
OonaiBting  of  galA  and  silver,  rich  elothg,  and  Airs  of  tame  and 
"savage  besffte:"  but  the  pious  Charles  refiised  to  accept  any 
of  these  valuable  presents,  and,  only  requested  from  his  gene- 
rous entertainer  the  ^;ift  of  a  few  relics,  on  which  he  set  a 
much  higher  value.  C<»istantiuB  complied,  and  conducted  his 
guest  to  the  sanctuary  where  these  treasures  were  deposited; 
on  opening  which,  their  senses  were  gratified  by  a  amell  of 
such  nncoDunon  sweetness  and  efficacy,  that  three  hundred 
sick,  who  w«e  Uien  at  their  devotions  near  the  spot,  were 
instantly  restored  to  health. 

Then  broo^t  they  fbrth  the  holy  orown. 
And  the  arm  of  Mint  Simoun, 

Befiim  hem  alle  there : 
And  a  part  of  the  holy  crosS) 
That  in  a  chrystal  was  6fme-  in  do8)' 

And  Qoddis  clothing : 
Our  levedy's*  smock  that  she  had  on, 
And  the  ;^id*  of  AaKm-, 
Forth  they  gen  bring; 
And  the  spear,  laag  and  smert,* 
That  Longys  put  to  Ooddis  hearty 

He  gave  Charles  the  king; 
And  a  nail,  long  and  great. 
That  was  y-drive  thorough  God's  feet, 
Withouten  any  lesing. 
Charles,  having  accepted  these  velnable  presents  with  be- 
coming ^ratitode,  prayed  to  Jesus  that  the  authenticity  of  the 
relics  might  be  maniieBted  by  some  unequivocal  testimony: 
and  at  the  instant  there  descended  from  heaven  a  beam  of 
light  so  brilliant,  that  the  place  where  they  stood  was  judged 
by  all  present  to  be  extremely  like  to  Paradise.     Oveijoyed  at 
this  testimony,  he  took  leave  of  the  gtx>d  Conslantius,  re- 
turned to  his  own  dominions,  and  went  to  meditate  on  his 
good  fortune  at  Aix  in  Gascony. 

Here  be  seems  to  have  totally  forgotten  &e  wickedness  of 

Ibrahim,  the  sufi^ings  of  the  exiled  pabiarch,  and  the  request 

of  Constantius:  but  fortunately  he  was  much  addicted  to 

Btar-gazdng ;  and  having  obs«n:ved  a  fligbt  of  stars  or  meteors, 

'  Inclosed.        *  lady's.        •  Bod  or  wsmL        *  Fieidng,  ibup. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


34B  EABLT    EMOLISK    KETSICJI.    SOVAHCBS. 

which,  traversing  the  he&vens,  ftppeared  to  settle  over  Spain 
and  Galicia,  hia  coriosi^  waa  excited,  and  he  prated  to  Ood 
for  an  explanation  of  this  phenomenon.  Hie  prayer  was 
heard;  ana  St.  Jamea  the  apoatle  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream, 
and  informed  him  that  the  mirBCuIons  march  of  etam  por- 
tended the  cooqueet  of  Spain,  which  he  was  destined  to 
achieve ;  observing  to  him,  however,  that  for  this  puipose  he 
would  Wve  occasion  for  a  Urge  army,  which  he  would  there- 
fore  do  well  to  assemble.  The  apostle  added,  on  hia  own  part, 
that  his  body  was  buried  in  Qalicia;  tihat  he  saw  it  very 
unwillingly  in  the  hands  of  the  infidels;  that  he  was  disposed 
to  be  properly  grateM  to  those  who  should  rescue  it  front 
contammation ;  and  that  he  would  promise  the  crown  of  mar- 
tyrdom to  such  of  his  friends  as  ahould  &11  in  so  good  a  cause. 
As  the  saint  was  well  aware  of  the  shortness  of  Chiiries's 
memory,  he  had  the  precaution  to  repeat  thia  visiDn  three 
times ;  in  consequence  of  which  the  pious  monarch  set  about 
his  enterprise  in  good  earnest,  and  entered  Spain  with  aa 
army  well  calculated  by  its  numbers  to  inrare  the  conquest  of 
the  country. 

The  opening  of  the  campaign  was  not  brilliant.  Charks 
lay  six  months  before  the  city  of  Pampelune,  without  being 
able  to  reduce  it ;  after  which  he  very  lucki^f  had  recourse  to 
]Hayer8 ;  and  these  being  seconded  by  St.  James,  the  whole 
walls  of  the  ci^  were  miraculously  thrown  down,  and  the 
army  entered  without  Airther  opposition.  Ten  thousand 
Saracens,  converted  by  this  palpable  interposition  of  Provi- 
denoe,  consented  to  receive  l»ptism:  those  who  persisted  in 
their  infidelity  were,  after  due  eshortatian  to  penitence,  eon- 
dnctfid  to  the  gallows.  Prom  this  time  the  progrcssof  Charie- 
magnc  was  almost  uninterrupted,  and  sixty-six  cities  were 
successively  reduced  to  his  obedience.  All  of  these  the  author 
has  taken  the  pains  to  enumerate,  for  the  information  of  poste- 
rity; but  as  his  transcriber  has  taken  equal  pains  to  envelop 
their  names  in  an  orth<^raphy  which  is  utterly  unintelligible, 
it  may  be  sufficient  to  state  that  four  cities  only,  namely, 
those  of  Lucerne,  Ventose,  Capuro,  and  Adavie,  attempted  ta 
make  any  serious  resistance,  ^liis  opposition  to  his  will  very 
naturally  disturbed  Charlemagne's  equanimity,  insomu^  tb^ 
he  cursed  them  all  together. 

Charlee  accursed  that  city. 

And  Ventose,  and  Capane,  and  Adavie, 


jL,Googlc 


SOLiKD  AKD  FEREl.aUt.  349 

For  their  deadlf  sin : 
Desert  they  weren  after  toa^ 
Hut  never,  sitli  then,  no  ChrislMO  man 

No  durst  come  therm. 
For  Charles  curaed  ho  Lucem, 
All  eo  tite'  the  town  gan  bum. 

And  shall  don  erermo! 
And,  of  the  smut  of  that  town^ 
Uany  talteth  tberof  poiwun. 
And  dyeth  in  mickle  iro. 
And  there  the  other  three  cities  stood, 
Beth  waters  red  of  belle  flood. 

And  fishes  therin  all  bio;* 
And  who  that  will  not  levc'  me. 
In  Spain  men  may  the  sooth  see, 
Who  that  win  thither  go. 
We  are  now  told  of  a  miracle,  which,  excepting  that 
miracles  ore  always  good  things,  might  iust  as  well  haTu  been 
reserved  for  any  other  occaaion.     Qmrtea,  it  seems,  planted 
•ome  vines  in  the  month  of  >Iarch,  and  on  the  very  next  day 
they  were  covered  with  grapes,  both  black  and  red,  and  in 
mui  abundance  that  it  was  difficult  to  supply  baskets  sufficient 
to  contain  them. 

It  was  an  object  of  considerable  anxiety,  both  to  Charles 
and  Tun)in,  to  destroy  oU  the  mawmeltes,  or  idols,  which 
they  could  find,  not  only  because  they  were  mneh  revered  by 
the  Saracens,  but  because  their  materials  were  in  generu 
valuable,  and  capable  of  being  much  better  employed  in 
endowing  churches  and  monaateries.  In  this  therefore,  "so 
sayeth  fht  Latin,"  they  proceeded  with  great  piersererance. 
And  an  image  of  great  poust^* 
Stood  on  a  roche  by  the  sea, 

In  the  Gilden  Londe; 
His  name  was  Salanicodas ; 

nhond. 
Hohoun  make^!^  him  with  gin. 

And  did  many  fiends  therin,  i 

As  ioh  underatond,  ' 

For  to  sustain  the  image; 
And  set  him  on  high  stage, 

■UtU.         ■BsMtrc.         *9tm». 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


850  EJLSI.T   KXSUBH  KXmCAL  XOKA^CKS. 

For  DO  man  nold  he  vond.' 
Tlie  bee  of  Um  was  tuned  smitii-'nght; 
Inherli^tfie  Samccms  found,  I  pii^it. 

Of  JnUtet  and  Mabonu, 
"Hat  irben  y-bora  were  the  king. 
That  should  Spain  to  Chrietiaii  fanngv 

The  image  abonld  Ul  adown : 
Chatlea  did  tite  im^e  bn. 
And  wan  in  ^laiti  tte  citiea  aO, 
And  wiOi  treecr  that  he  mui  these 

Both  tower  and  town ; 
Many  a  churdi  be  let  aieer,* 
That  was  t^  peat  rtaaomn. 
Oor  author,  whose  dispositiaa  to  pndixi^,  where  an  mu- 
inerati<m  of  chunjiea  is  concerned,  is  not  inferior  to  that  of 
Turpin  himself,  i»  fortunatelr  dimtedfrotn  his  Ust  by  a  miracle, 
the  tvcital  of  which  be  likes  stiD  better.  It  seems  that  whilst 
'Chark-m&gne  was  lying  at  Baytmne,  a  certain  knight  in  his 
army  rolled  Romain  died,  and  direct^  his  esecntor  to  b^  hia 
hor5»  and  other  goods,  and  to  distribute  the  money  to  the 
poor.  The  executor  appcopriated  the  money  to  his  own  nae; 
m  conseqoaice  of  whi^  tile  deceased,  niiote  intended  afans 
had  thus  been  intnc^tted.  was  kept  some  time  in  mirgaloiy, 
and  on  his  retesse  i^ipeaied  in  a  dream  near  dte  bed  of  his 
fiirmer  companion,  to  whom  he  denoanced  the  tpeedj  punidi- 
■nent  of  his  tniquitY.  The  terrified  executor  related  mis  dread- 
ful vision  in  the  pnUic  hall:  and  while  he  was  yet  ^leaking.a 
small  c<aup«uiT  ^  Aeataas,  boine  on  a  gvst  ef  wind,  flew  into 
the  room,  earned  him  into  the  air.  tja'rmed  die  prorince,  and 
dashed  him  to  [necee  against  a  rock  in  NsTxm,  whB«  hia 
hodr  was  found  at  the  next  mart^  of  the  army. 

Ine  lettdnr  will  perhaps  be  of  <^iinian  unt  Bolaiid  and 
Fwngns,  the  two  heroes  of  this  curious  nanatite,  have  de- 
bqred  their  a^^teannce  quite  long  enough:  and  it  must  be 
oonfiiesed  that  the  poet  has  rather  nnaecoantably  tnnittcd 
•OBie  ndrentuiee  of  the  ftnner  at  Botdeaox.  wrdt  wfaic^  Tvr- 
pin  has  somewhat  ndirencd  dte  Hst  of  mirades  and  Bonas- 
teries  which  frannB  the  principal  part  of  his  histocT.  Bnt  it 
■e^DS  to  be  his  opinion,  that  a  deacriptiun  of  Ute  poKM 
and  manners  of  Charlnnagne,  b«ng  eqanliy  nited  to  the 

'N*as^ltewBd;Le.k««)UHltfir.    *-amtm.    ■■riMi^. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


SOIUHD  XKS  PEBK40ITS.  351 

b^inning  or  end  of  hia  etoiy,  could  not  be  dupliuxd  in  the 
middle.     He  has  tlierefore  inserted  it  here. 

Charles  waa  conuderably  above  the  middle  stature,  being, 
"  as  the  Latin  us  said,"  twenty  feet  in  height,  of  propoition- 
ute  strength,  and  of  a  stem  aspect.  His  hair  was  black;  hia 
conntanance  ruddy.  At  four  festivals  in  the  year,  that  is  to 
say,  at  Easter,  at  'Whitsuntide,  on  St.  James's  day,  and  at 
Christmas,  he  wore,  &om  motives  of  pie^,  "  the  holy  crown 
of  thorn;"  and  on  these  occasions  he  dined  in  public,  sur- 
rounded by  his  kuiKhts,  having  a  drawn  sword  carried  before 
bim.  At  night  ins  couch  was  guarded  by  a  company  of  a 
Inmdred  kni^ts,  each  bearing  in  one  hand  a  lighted  torch^ 
and  in  the  other  a  naked  falchion-  It  was  during  one  of  these 
festivals  at  Fampelune,  where  he  displayed  his  usual  magni- 
ficence, that  he  received  a  challenge  from  Ferngus,  a  geD^ral 
sent  a^unst  bun  by  the  soudan  of  Babyltm,  to  meet  nim  in 


eSM. 


And  on  a  day  came  tiding 
Unto  Charles  the  king. 

All  of  a  doughty  knigh^ 
Was  comen  to  Vasers  ;> 
Stout  he  was,  and  fierce, 

Ferragus  he  hight. 
Of  Babyloun  the  soudan 
Thither  him  send  gan. 

With  King  Charles  to  flg^t; 
So  hard  he  was  to-fond,'    ' 
Hiat  no  dint  of  brond 

No  grieved  him,  I  plight. 
He  had  twenty  men's  stre^^; 
And  foTtf  feet  of  length 

Thiue  paynim  had; 
And  taax  feet  m  the  &ce 
Y-meten*  on  the  place, 

And  fifteen  in  lawle.* 
TTin  nose  was  a  foot  and  nun; 
His  brow,  as  bristles  wore; 

(He  that  it  saw  it  said) 
He  looked  lothliche,* 
And  was  swartf  as  pitch; 

Of  him  loen  might  adrede! 
a  KlTcn  b*  Ounin,  vis.  At^et,  b  ixfuSj  miatdll^ls^ 
.     .,. ,     -"rtsdih.    'LortUy.    'Bladb 

D,j„..;^L,Coo^|i: 


KLSI,T    XSSUSH    MBTKICAX    W 


Chiles  iei«ii«d  to  Vasem,  for  ibe  pmpaae  of  n 
k»  moostnNB  enoojr;  tmt  after  *T«miiiing  him  limb  by  Umb 
^ridi  the  minvtut  attention,  was  ao  litUe  tonpted  hj  tbe 
■BTT^,  that  hededined  tbe  dwllenge;  bvtenfioed  Optxie 

Bums,  wboae  enrioshy  to  try  tbe  strengdi  i^  md  an  n ^ 

adtBWMT  ma  keener  dian  bis  own,  to  enconnter  tbe  gi 


dtepRsatDeofbathanues.  Ogierannedbhnaetfwitb  great 
Oaie,  mounted  bis  beat  bone,  dioae  ■  lance  of  uncommon 
otrengtb,  and  nnbed  apca  bis  eaaaj  witb  tbe  rapidity  of 
ItgbtniiiK:  but  Fitzragta,  leceiTii^  tbe  point  of  tbe  Bpeax 
OB  bis  m^d  with  an  air  cf  per6ct  iDdtflemce,  seiacd  the 
knigbt  with  bis  ri^t  band,  lifted  him  from  his  borae,  and, 
tzaanng  bim  voder  bis  ann  in  sudi  >  manner  tbal  die  a 


ooold  make  no  cfibrt  to  eacwe,  boR  him  off  iu  peHki  aieiice 
la  die  castle  of  Vasen.  The  nordty  of  tlus  nectade  asto- 
DKbed  bat  did  not  intimidale  d^  wairiora  of  Clmlanagne. 
On  the  fbUowii^  n>«niiig,  tbe  gallant  Reynald  de  AnbtpiDe' 
jmented  himadC  to  tbe  giant,  bat  was  as  naBaceeaaAil  as 
Ogkr;  and  Fenagns,  not  more  distorfaed  by  tbe  stn^gfes  of 
&e  dasntlesa  kni^t,  whoaa  be  bdd  ondear  bis  arm,  dian  a 
hmmk  by  tbe  ftrttaing  of  the  prey  in  its  takoa,  tanwtingly 


Againat  tn,  and  awicfae*  tbe  best. 
To  fight  idt  wiMld  gor 

Qtules,  (tt  tbe  next  day.  diiinalikil  Sir  CoHtmitine  of 
Bmne.  tDgedter  widi  Howd.  enri  of  Nanlea.  on  dw  aame 
arand:  he  then  ant  m  kn^te  at  oaoe,  bnl  aU  diaied  tl« 
nme&te;  and  hefcrcaawOu  UaaniTWMCMi  the  pnnt  of 
<>^ng  taken  tnm  bim  inea»-aM^  by  d«  tiHuimmi*  giant, 
when  tbe  Ibnudahfe  Bofand  ■*— ~~i-^  tbt  ojnbat.  and,  in 
agite  <a  the  king's  eatieaaies.  persisted  in  h»  reaohitiaci  of 
•tiacfcmg  ae  wtbefering  mnwter. 

Fenagw.  w«U  awmrefroB  the  appemnee  of  Bobnd,  dml 
be  bad  now  to  dnl  mtb  no  «aan»  adrowy,  prt  Imdt  his 
"rt^  strengdi.  and  actanOy  mmeded  in  p^Oing  from  Oe 
•MUIe.  and  in  pnttiMt  befbte  Urn  m  hk  own  hnae's  iw^ 


neR«McBta^wM 
W  Roland,  after  ad 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BOLA^tD  A34D  FEKOAOrS.  353 

wlf  80  effbctanlly,  that  witb  a  midden  jerk  be  nnboned  the 
giant  in  bis  turn,  and  fell  with  him  to  the  ground.  Tbey  now 
remonnted  as  quickly  as  pomible;  and  Baland  drawing  his 
kworI,  the  terrible  Durmdale.  aimed  a  blow  at  Ferragos, 
which,  though  it  missed  the  rider,  cut  off  the  bead  of  the 
horse,  and  Drought  them  both  to  the  ground.  Ferragua 
revenged  himself  by  killing  Roland's  hone,  whom  he  feUed 
to  the  earth  by  a  blow  of  his  fist.  The  champions  were  now 
both  on  foot,  and  commenced  a  combat  which  lasted  &om  the 
momisg  till  night ;  and  which,  though  highly  interesting  to 
the  very  numerous  spectators,  was  perfectly  hannless  with 
respect  to  both  the  actors,  because  Roland  jmidently  avoided 
the  grasp  of  his  adversary,  and,  parrying  every  blow,  applied 
the  edge  of  Durindale  to  all  parts  of  the  giant's  impenetrable 
hide,  but  without  being  able  to  moke  the  least  impression. 
Ferragus,  however,  contrived  to  tire  himself  so  efibctnally  by 
his  useless  exertiona,  that  he  was  the  first  to  propose  a  truce 
tin  the  next  day;  when  Roland  resolved  to  try  the  efifect  of 
a  new  weapon,  bavii^  sufficiently  asertained  that  his  sword, 
thongh  so  well  tempered  as  to  cut  the  hardest  marble,  could 
not  even  scratch  the  skin  of  this  huge  Saracen. 

On  the  following  morning  the  battle  was  renewed.  Roland 
now  brought  with  him  a  knotty  oaken  elub;  and  as  his 
superior  address  still  enabled  him  to  avoid  his  enemy's 
weapon,  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  beat  the  giant,  at  his 
)eisiu«,  with  the  club,  from  morning  till  noon.  Fenagus  fiQt 
the  wei^t  of  the  blows,  and  became  more  exasperated,  and 
nther  more  awkward  than  bef(n*e:  .but  ihe  cudgel  was  as 
incapable  of  bruising  as  the  sword  had  been  of  catting  him. 
At  noon  therefore  the  champions,  l^  common  consent,  dropped 
their  weapons,  and  began  to  throw  stones  at  each  other ;  and 
this  curious  battle  was  kept  up  till  Ferragus  became  immode- 
rately sleeky,  and  requested  permission  to  take  a  short  nap. 
Rohmd,  whose  courtesy  was  equal  to  his  valour,  readily  con- 
sented ;  and  the  giant,  almost  instantly  felling  asleep,  b^aa 
to  snore  so  unrcasonaUy  loud,  that  bis  advegcsery  heard  him 
at  first  with  astonishment,  and  at  lost  with  compassion,  con- 
ceiving that  he  must  be  in  very  great  pain,  and  that  neither 
man  nor  monster  could  be  natiually  inclined  to  slumbers  so 
very  noi^  and  inhaimonious.  He  therefore,  after  surveying 
all  tho  fragments  of  rock  which  theyhadlately  thrown  at  each 
other,  at  Iraigth  pitched  npon  one  which  appeared  sufficiently 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


f   KICUSH  MSIKICAl.  WMASCM, 


*-— :-^ —  *t»t  his  RfMMc  be»««e,  m  «»«qn«fie,  ^aaa 

-       F«r -  '--  *■-*    ' 

ted  I 
farb 

hisfi 


MMc  Mq«Q.  F«t«g«fc  howe«r.  at  ImI  ambd.  s 
Jm.1  him.  rubbed  hia  ey«.  Mid.  not  briag  ''^  °f  » 
p-i — »--  utknts  ftw  bed-nakinf:.  ««e««r  mqvnd  who  "^^ 
ki«ilT  provided  him  wiib  »  pilk-w;  addi^.  tta*  he^n^ 


1  Oe  kni^  TCflied  tlHft  he  k^  d«e 
ft^  ptttlr  ii^ed  ia  c^uitr  to  hi»  own  ens.  ^hidi  hod  bos 
aiUo^  de«S»ed:  -b«."  cotfiowd  he.  -* mmo  yo»  ■» nw 
TVT  ii»d  of  mr.  pny  tdl  me  whether  yaw  oie  >U  oiw  mvi- 
Dtnl^r  F»i^»«wwe«dthrthew*».eMW^ing««y« 
At  M*«l:  owl  dKo  impiind  in  hii  tm  into  ^k  bizth,  po- 
tCKHgy.  and  edwBotii  of  hk  new  tq 
It  WW  bM  to  be  expected  iha  t 
nptr  to  all  d«ae  perticalMs.  wiihavt 
Mi  Am  BatanUT  led  bim  to  brnoit  thot  tbe  good^i 
istfae 


ibn^Bd  to  gin  ^i»  ■  leaaan  m  Chnatnoitv:  whiA 

r  (codi^  wdeeteoh.    The  eomb-t  ww.  In  omtHl 

L  poatpvoed:  o^  iIk  CbiirtiaB  bsn  pe«paz«d  to  tiT 

«■  themonator'a  head  wos  mve  perriuoB  to  ai^iuaeirt 

t^  to  tbe  kMtt  «rf  hie  c^  or  to  the  tR>dont  edge  of 


i  (acfMied  with  a  ■ 
tiooo.  As  iIh  hmp  ■•  nmi[WM<il  itf  thice  Unos*-  vis.  woi 
'  Uw|L  s  aad  hawmoay;  and  os  the  «aa  nuteo  bnt.  U^A,  i 
»|Md<Mr:  soiaGoilfine  god  nd  time  pemma.  FemgH 
deriMcd  that  be  had  mow  m.  Tvrr  ckw  *— ifpirtiiw  of  the 
TkMity:  bat  be  eooU  «eid>er  bdien  oar  a 
^binh«fo«r£kTM«r.     Kolaad  toU 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


TimhnMith'r ;  tad  that  God,  &Mbaig  >*  nfceaMrj  to  send  ns  ft 
Bed«enacT,nuglit  Imre  eitbcr  caaaed  him  to  appeal  amcngst 
us  innxiediftte^,  or  throu^  the  interT«ntioa  o£  that  birtb 
whidk  be  bad  estcblubed  fix  the  rest  d  his  creBtnrea :  bst 
that,  either  id  devitttiBg  tnmk  or  con&nning-  to  bia  own  gaat- 
latlam,  his  Qondnet  ob  thi*  oocobok  must  hava  appeared  to 
US  ~1T~"7  myBtnkmfl.  Feert^us,  not  being  pKipaied  to  can- 
ms  this  a^masnt,  conaeated,  &>r  the  pieaoit,  to  adaait  it ; 
bat  dedarad  that  the  deatib  of  God  opoK  a  crosa  waa  quite  ira- 
powible ;  aad  tfaat  bia  iMiuiectaun  iraa  equallj'  incrcdiUe : 
"  For  that  I  ne  wist  nerer  no  man 
That  aroae  afief  than 

When  that  he  de«d  ma." 

Roland,  nnwilHng  to  lo«e  his  {Hoael^  by  want  of  apparent 
deference  to  bis  esperieuce  or  uadentanding,  appeared  to 
conrader  this  objectioa  aa  of  great  ve^it,  and  amwa«d  tlmt 
in  fiu>t  the  godhead  did  not  die  while  the  anbnation  of  the 
bodf  was  Bospetided,  but  waa  then  emi^iq'ed  in  the  work 
of  onr  redemptum,  and  that  hence  arose  our  hopes  of  a 
bfened  immortality.  Ferragns  appeared  bo  &!  satisfied ;  and 
<myiiiaBcd  no  hrther  doubts,  excepting  as  to  Christ's  letum  to 
hesna,  the  hei^t  aad  distance  of  which  appeared  peifbctlj 
nnmeasonible.  Rdaiid  leplied,  that  Ood  could  return  thither 
wtdi  as  much  ease  as  he  had  descended  from  thence;  and  that 
widt  rtRpect  to  the  distance  of  beaTen,  it  was  not  less  wimder- 
fid  that  the  Bun,  aftar  having  manifest^  set  in  the  west,  should 
in  the  oonrse  of  the  ni^t  measure  back  its  whole  pn^ress, 
and  rise  in  the  opposite  point  of  the  firmament. 

Boland  had  probably  entertained  great  hopes  from  the 
ingenuity  of  this  last  iltostiation,  and  was  therefore  not  a  Lttle 
disappointed  when  the  pemrae  giant  made  bim  the  ibllowing 

Quatb  Fcnagns,  "  Now  ich  wot 
Your  Christian  law  erery  grot; 

Now  we  will  fight 
Whether  hiw  better  be, 
Soon  we  shall  y-see, 
Long  ««  it  be  night." 
However,  as  it  was  clear  that  the  giant  was  tired  of  theology, 
and  very  unlikely  to  be  converted  by  penoasicH],  it  became 


necessanr  to  try  once  more  what  could  be  accomplished  by 
fotoBi  Both,  eombatanta  were  pa^&otly  nfr«riied,  bo^  wbm 
2  J.  2 

j„..;^L,  Cookie 


SS6  CABLT  EMOLISH  UTKICAI;  BOIUlTCEfl. 

incoued  by  Uieir  late  dupntstion,  and  their  first  strokea  were 
dreadful.  That  of  Koland  searly  cruaked  his  antAgonist,  who 
in  his  turn  cut  in  two,  witli  a  single  blow  of  his  aword,  the 
masaive  oalcen  club  which  had  been  chosen  as  the  most  fbnui- 
dable  weapon  in  all  Charlemagne's  armoury.  Perragtis  now 
began  to  emit  at  the  prospect  of  an  easy  rictory;  bat  Roland, 
devoutly  fidling  on  hie  knees,  prefbrrcd  a  prayer  to  heayen, 
and  requested  the  divine  interference  in  a  combat  which  he 
had  undertaken  solely  ibr  Uie  purpose  of  vindicating  his 
insulted  religion.  An  angel  immediately  descended. 
And  said,  "  Heard  is  thy  boon ; 

Arise,  Roland,  and  fight. 
And  shed  the  shrew's '  blood. 
For  he  nas  never  good 
By  lond  nor  by  sea; 
Hiough  all  the  preachers  alive 
To  Christendom  would  him  shrive,* 
Good  nold  he  never  be!" 
The  Christian  champion  now  fblt  himself  poesessed  of  a 
degree  of  strength  which   no  human  power  could  rerast. 
Though  only  armed  with  a  &agment  of  his  club,  he  struck  off 
the  Im  arm  of  the  giant,  and  by  a  second  blow  fcUed  him  to 
the  ground;  after  wnich,  easily  disarming  him,  he  pierced  him. 
with  his  own  sword  through  the  navt^  the  only  vulnerable 
part  of  his  person.     The  expiring  Ferragus  loudly  called  on 
his  god  Mahomet ;  but 

Roland  lough*  for  that  cry. 
And  said,  "  Mahoun!  sikei^y. 
No  may  thee  help  nought. 
No  Jupiter,  no  Apolin, 
No  is  worth  the  bmst  of  a  swiu,* 

In  heart  no  in  thoii^t." 
His  yentail  be  gan  unlaec, 
And  smote  off  his  heved  in  that  place. 

And  to  Charles  it  brought : 
Tho  thanked  he  God  in  heaven, 
',  And  Mary,  with  mild  steveo,' 

That  so  had  y-wrought. 
And  all  the  folk  of  the  land. 
For  honour  of  Roland, 
■  Aeomsed  nua.   ■  ConftM.    'I^ngbed.  *  Brirtle  of  ■  sow.       Tirfce^ 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


I 


SIB  OTVKL.  S57 

lliBnked  Ood,  old  and  young ; 
And  yeis  a  processioutt, 
With  croes  and  with  gonianoim,' 

And  saline,  and  merry  song. 
Both  vidow  and  vrife  in  place, 
Thus  thmlf  ed  Godis  grace. 

All  that  spake  with  toDgue ; 
To  Otuel  al  so  yera, 
That  was  a  SarrBsin  stem, 

Full  soon  this  word  Bpnmg. 
These  concluding  words  seem  to  connect  this  romance  with 
the  fallowing. 


ne  bltleof  thii  nmance,tbaitgli' not  contained  k  the  ori^iwl  Chro- 
nick  of  ISupin,  appaan  to  Ian  been  Terj  kmo  enrrafted  on  md  oon- 
nected  with  tt.  I  do  sot  know  that  it  wu  arer  printed ;  bnt  It  ia  pre. 
aarrad  in  H8.,  tbongh  in  an  imperfeEt  itats,  in  Iha  AneluDleck  vtdnma. 
He  fragnient  containa  173B  linei,  and  ia  written  )n  couplel*  with  con- 
ndenble  iplrit  ami  aoiauLtion.  A  aecond  MS.,  in  lii-liaed  ituuaa,  ia  in 
the  poneaiion  of  W.  FDUngikam,  Eiq.  The  atyle  of  thia  la  modi  mora 
k^iiid  and  feeble,  RacmbBng  pretty  nearly  the  diction  of  tbe  nmunce 
whlcli  ne  hava  jiut  enmined.  It  baa,  hoverer,  Hie  merit  of  oumpleting 
the  (torj,  and  of  fanialuDg  a  pai^hrue  of  Tnrpin'i  Chronicle  from  the 
period  of  the  death  of  Farngoa  to  tbe  bat^a  of  Konceandlea. 

Hbxkksih,  hoth  ying  and  old, 
Tltat  willen  hearen  of  battles  bold! 
An  ye  woll  a  whQe  dwell. 
Of  bold  batayls  ich  woll  you  tell, 
That  was,  some  time,  between 
Christian  men  and  Saracens  keen. 
After  this  exordium  the  author  proceeds  to  tell  us  tliat, 
while  Charles  reigned  in  France,  the  throne  of  Lombardy  was 
occupied  by  a  Suacen  prince  named  Oarsie,  who  "  leved  all 
in  Maumetrie,"  and  harassed  the  Christians,  throoghont  his 
Tast  territories,  with  unceasing  persecntionB.     Marseilles,  and 
many  of  tiie  southern  ptovincee  of  France,  were  tributary  to 
hiin ;  and  fifteen  kings  were  proud  of  serving  under  the  ban- 
ners ttf  a  chief  who  looked  forward  to  nothing  less  tian 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


3jS  KIBLT  E50LISH   mCTRICAL   BOVAXCES. 

the  extupatioii  of  the  dmatiaii  bkfa  thiongfaoiit  the  finest 
TOimtTiea  of  Eorope.  Such  a  man  was  the  natnnl  enemy  of 
niark-nugne,  to  whom  he  icaotved  to  aebd  bis  defiance, 
couched  in  terms  of  the  utmost  arro^^ce ;  and,  for  the  poT' 
pofic  of  givin);  the  greatest  notoriety  to  the  inaolt,  choae  one  of 
those  great  (eetirals  when  the  Chiutian  emperor  was  sur- 
rounded by  his  twelve  peers,  and  telected  an  smbassodta 
whose  haughty  and  presumptnons  dmaeter  was  sure  to  be 
peculiarly  olfcnsiTe. 

Otoel  his  name  was ; 
Of  no  nan  afeud  he  bm. 
Into  the  palace  tho  he  cani, 
A  sqayer  by  the  hond  he  nam. 
And  said,  "  Ich  am  comen  here 
King  Garsie's  meesangete. 
To  speak  vrith  Charles  long  of  this  load. 
And  with  a  kni^t  that  liuht  Bokmd, 
And  with  another  hight  O^reie, 
En^htea  hokden  witbootoi  p«er ; 
TkNs  tin*  I  beseech  tfaee 
That  tkoB  teD  me  wbidi  they  be." 
'  Tbe  Bqnire  beheld  with  awe  the  oDoBnandiiw  deportBent 
uf  the  stnnger,  and,  respectfully  takbg  Us  hai^  led  hiea  t* 
the  ^per  end  of  the  hall,  where  Cliarlee  was  scNttd  m  Us 
Anae,  a  bench  on  his  right  hand  beii^  occnjned  by  RolaBd. 
(HiTier,  and  (^er  le  iWois.     Otnel,  snrreying  the  wbole 
■sseml^  with  an  air  of  conscious  snpeiiority,  stalked  up  to 
the  impoial  seat,  aad  tfam  fix^  Us  cy««  «b  Charles, 
He  said  to  him,  amid  his  t™!!, 
"ffire  king!  fend  mote  ye  &I1!' 
Thon  art  about  to  grieve 
Mahmm,  that  we  on  beKerc ; 
Tbavfarehare  dioa  nuragr^  ? 
So  thee  greateth  Qande  by  me, 
Tliat  haveth  a  menage  sent 
To  sssgm  his  comnnndemeut- 
And  non,  Soland,  tliBt  art  fats  knigfat. 
Now  I  know  Aee  by  sigfat. 
May  I  meet  thee  in  the  field, 
Widi  diy  spear  and  with  thy  diidid, 
■MrrerilbeUjoal      'Be  tboaaowicdl  A.N.      •  Ssf. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


Ich  vihtAe  mte,  ao  mote  ich  the,* 

Bi^t  between  me  and  thee! " 
Daring  this  speech  many  of  die  cximpany  betrayed  evident 
ToaAs  <S  impatience;  but  the  coorteous  Roland  simply 
answered,  that  the  insolence  of  an  ambaBsador  mi^t  be  inde- 
eoMOB,  but  was  not  very  terrible,  particularly  vheti  the 
^>eaker  was  not  known  to  have  sigi^sed  himself  by  any 
picrious  exploits.  Otnel  now  bevan  to  emmieTate  the  Chris- 
tian hounde  who  had  already  fkUen  beneath  the  edge  of  bis 
good  sword  Corrouge,  and  pnrsaed  his  narration  in  terms  so 
ofiensive  that  Estuyt  of  Legiers,  one  of  Charlemagne's  knights, 
•einng  a  fire-brand  teora  the  hearth,  aimed  a  Uow  at  Otuel, 
which  Koland  Tory  dextemnEly  intercepted ;  and  at  the  same 
tame  the  king  himself,  interfering,  ordered  that  no  (me,  on 
ptdn  of  bis  serere  displeasme,  shonid  prerame  to  attempt  any 
act  of  violence  against  a  person  inyefftcd  by  the  general  law 
of  nations  with  a  saered  c^iaraeter.  The  monarch's  injunction 
woold  perhaps  have  been  obeyed  bat  for  the  increasing  arro- 
gance of  Otnel,  who  scorned  to  ^lield  himself  imder  the  pro- 
tection  of  any  law,  and  threatened  with  instant  death  whoever 
should  be  bo  presumptuons  as  to  assail  him.  At  these  words 
a  French  knight,  whom  name  is  not  mentioned,  came  behind 
him,  seiivd  iota  by  the  head,  laid  him  prostrate  on  the  gronnd, 
and,  having  taken  a  knife  from  the  table,  attempted  to  stab 
him.  But  the  Saracen  was  protected  by  an  excellent  coat  of 
mail  beneath  his  robe,  and,  instantly  rising  nnhurt,  drevT  the 
terrible  Corronge,  and  with  the  first  blow  cut  down  the 
uttihmt.  Ibe  hall  was  now  filled  with  tumult,  but  Otnel 
exclaimed  witli  a  voice  of  thunder : 

"By  the  laverf  Sire  Uahonn, 

iGii^tes!  ich  rede,*  sitten  adowu! 

For,  if  any  of  you  so  hardy  be. 

That  any  stroke  mintelh*  to  me, 

Mahonn  my  Ood  ich  here  lorsake, 

Gif  he  shall  ever  orders  take 

Of  any  other  bishop's  bond. 

Bat  of  Corronge  my  goodbrond!"* 

'  Froaper.  '  Lord.  ■  Adiiie.  *  Auneth. 

*  It  wu  Tei7  eomman  with  lmigbt*-emnt  to  end  Aeir  dijs  in  her- 

mltigea;  prerioulj  to  whkh  tttej  unwllT  ncrired  thp.  derical  lonturr. 

Otoel'i  (Unsioa  to  Una  venmoay  mttt  bare  been  >  finonrite  joke,  t  ttn 

I  Tacj  frsqnemtlf  in  imr  old  romsDea. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


360  EABLT    EXOLIIH    KETKICA.L    SallASC-BS. 

It  cannot  be  suppoaed  that  this  inHolent  speed),  or  the 
unpoeing  fignre  of  Otaet,  who  held  in  his  hand  the  good 
■word  Cotrouge,  still  reeking  with  the  blood  of  fais  adyenary. 
could  hare  inspired  any  terror  in  an  assembly  compoaed  of 
the  bravest  knights  in  Christ^idain ;  yet  it  waa  obeerved  th^ 
the  voice  of  Clmrlemagne,  which  bad  before  been  drowned  in 
clamonr,  wss  now  better  hcaid,  and  his  injunctions  to  abstain 
fiom  violence  to  the  ambassador  more  willinglT  obejed. 
Indeed  a  considerable  port  of  the  ctHnpanj  showed  uieir 
respect  by  retiring  from  the  ball,  so  that  Otuel  was  lefl  with 
Charles  and  his  immediate  counsellors. 

The  king  now  earnestly  requested  him  to  give  up  his 
■word,  the  retention  of  which  was  evidently  improper;  and 
Boland  offered  to  pledge  himself  for  its  faithful  restoration 
fdienevcr  he  shonM  draire  to  depart;  but  the  pertinacions 
Saracen  continued  insensible  to  their  courtesy,  and,  dedarii^ 
Ihat  if  he  had  twelve  squires  at  his  fodcrs  he  would  trust  to 
himself  alone  the  care  of  his  favourite  Coironge,  still  preserved 
Cbe  same  mcnacii^  attitude.  The  Idng,  unwilling  to  con- 
tinue an  indecorous  altercatiou,  at  length  waived  this  point  ot 
ceremony;  and,  calmly  observing  to  the  Saracen,  that  the 
personal  violence  in  which  he  hod  thou^t  fit  to  indulge  had 
only  tended  to  raider  unintelligible  the  message  which  he  had 
be<»t  ordered  to  convey,  requested  that  he  would  plainly 
d^rer  the  purpose  of  his  embaffiy. 

Otuel  replied,  that  Oaraie,  king  of  Spain  and  Lomberdy, 
■nd  of  other  countries  almost  innumemblc,  had  sent  him  to 
anntrance  his  intention  of  ravaging  France  with  fire  and 
Bwtsd,  unless  Charles  should  consent  to  avert  the  unequal 
conflict  by  renoonciug  Christianity;  fay  making  aatis&ction 
for  divers  outrages  committed,  at  his  instigation,  c»  the 
fhithfhl  followers  of  Uahomet ;  and  by  readily  tokea  the  onth 
of  allegiance  as  vassal  to  the  said  Garaie : 
"And  certes,  but  it  so  bc&ll, 

Garsie  will  give  thine  londes  all 

To  (Cerent  at  Esclavonie, 

The  king's  son  of  Germanic, 

That  haveth  his  o'  daughter  to  wife. 

That  he  loveth  as  his  life. 

Thus  shall  all  thy  mirth  adown. 

But  tbon  lere  on  Sire  Maboun!' 


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SIS  OIUEL.  3S1 

Before  Charlemagne  could  oSbr  any  remail  on  these  imper- 
tinent conditdonB,  the  dmuiperet  exclaimed  with  one  T^ce, 
that  if  their  BOrereign  woitld  condescend  to  lead  them  against 
Oursie,  they  would  soon  punish  him  as  he  deserved,  for -the 
insotencft  with  which  he  threatened  to  dispose  of  their  lands 
to  his  misbelieving  Saracens. 

"Certes,  aire  king,"  qnath  Otuel, 
"Thine  Frenche  knights  can  yelpe'  well; 
And  when  they  be  to  war  y-bronght, 
Titenne  be  they  right  naught! 
Though  tliou  bring,  with  shidd  and  f^>e(ir, 
All  that  ever  may  weapon  bear. 
To  warre  upon  the  King  Garsie, 
Certes,  all  uict  shoulden  die. 
And  thou  art  king,  and  olde  knight. 
And  haveat  i-Ioren*  all  diy  might. 
And  in  thy  yuigthe,*  take  good  heed, 
Hiou  were  never  dou^ty  of  deed ! " 
EvHt  the  patienoe   of  the  temperate  Charlemagne  was 
scarcely  proof  against  this  wanton  personal  insult,  and  the 
twelve  peers  were  incensed   almost  to  madness.      Boland, 
however,  still  preserving  his  dignity,  only  replied,  that  should 
his  good  fortune  in  the  field  leaJd  him  to  encounter  the  boast- 
ing ambassador,  he  trusted  that  he  should  so  behave  as  to 
cure  him  of  his  contempt  for  French  valour. 
"Oughl"  quath  Otuel,  and  lough,* 
"Whereto  makest  thou  it  so  toughh 
Why  threat  me  in  another  land. 
When  ich  am  here  at  thine  hand? 
Oif  thou  havest  will  to  fight, 
When  ever  thou  wolt,  let  thee  dight. 
And  thou  ahalt  find  me  ready,  aplight,' 
In  the  field  to  "bide  fight." 
"By  God,"  quath  Roland,  "ich  would  be  yaref 
When  ich  wist  to  find  thee  there ! 
And  evil  mot  he  thrive  and  the, 
Ibat  first  faUeth  of  me  and  thee!" 
The  impetuoua  Otuel  immediately  named  the  next  morning 
fbr  the  tmie  of  meeting;    and  Roland  having  witii  equal 
eagemeaa  consented    to  the  proposal,    the  two  champions 
'  Bout,  Su.       ■  Loit.        *  Yonlli.        *  Ungtied.        *  IKfflrailt 
*  CoTtuiaf .  I  Kcadf. 

D,j„..;uL,Coo^|i: 


362  KABLT  EKOI.TIH  1(KTXIC1.L  SOMAITCTS. 

dwew  down  Ihni  gages,  tatd  scdtsnlj  pledged  fimnehcs  to 
the  perCiiwaDce  of  the  battle.  Otarles,  theogfa  peMBMiDy 
insulted  by  Ute  arrogaiKe  <rf'  the  Saneen,  ooiild  not  k 
admiring  his  ifiirit,  and  lamoitiiig  that  each  an  i 
mniar  Bfaonld  be  igwwant  of  the  Tirtnes-  of  lja|>tiwi-  ne 
dierefbre  earnestly  conjured  him  to  be  bttpdxed,  m^  to  ibnAe 
his  fiilK  fiuth.  promising  to  rerard  hia  cofiiaBce  bj  tfte 
richest  inTestitare  that  hw  gpaaaoA  domawns  eo«dd  fiinlidi. 
Otnel  only  answored  by  freah  outrages ;  afker  which  the  king 
at  length  bethought  hima^  of  ""^"^  an  ininiiT,  K'hifj)  per- 
haps may  be  ttwi^fat  ta  hayo  been  nwisiialfy  dderred,  into 
the  rank  and  name  of  an  iilwWBaihii.  irikoae  lody  ekiqumce 
iras  so  much  more  remai^ahle  than  his  comtesy. 

Otue]  answocd  lius: 
"  A  Idngis  son  idt  am,  y-wis. 

Sooth  to  Bfty,  and  um^t  to  lie. 

Ich  am  the  king's  oonsin  Ganie. 

Ferr^ns  mine  eme  was, 

lliat  never  ovenwmen  BW. 

Sir  JEloland,  thy  ooDsin,  inm  sloa^;' 

TheieEire  wiU  rise  wo  cMcn^l 

llHTdace  I  desira  so  midte,* 

To£ght  with  Roland  nkeriicte. 

Ich  wid  tcmHHtowan  in  the  day 

Awreken*  his  deatii,  ^  ich  nar." 
The  mention  of  Fcnagns  camnced  Okariea  that  the  arro- 
gance and  discoortcsy  of  die  gaOaiit  sttwigei'  wore  bmily 
bilings,  with  which  it  would  be  naekas  to  eoDtnd:  he  there- 
fore smnmoned  his  chamberlain.  Sir  Begnier,  and  strictly 
mjoined  him  to  take  care  that  the  ujitsmUliK  fjt  King 
Qarne  should  be  protected  against  any  attack  which  the 
eccentric  manner  t^  executiiig  his  oonminion  mig^t  tend  to 
draw  down  upon  him,  and  be  oondneted  to  his  out,  with  all 
ibe  honours  to  which,  as  a  kn^t,  he  wm  cstitied.  %r 
Regnier  accordingly  attended  the  stranger  in  penoD  to  his 
lodging,  and,  takuig  hia  leave  with  doe  aae^any,  returned 
to  court. 

Charlemagne  had  little  sle^  throna^uMit  die  night.  Daring 
an  attenliTe  smrey  of  Otoet's  person,  he  had  obaorved  in  Inn 
the  iTuiri^  of  uniunal  stivngth ;  inferior  pdhaps  to  tiMt  of  his 
colowal  uncle,  bat  not  less  fbnnidable,  because  it  waa  miited 

'  Slew.  ■  Much.  ■  Ay^ge. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


SIS  OTVEK.  363 

with  imtch  address  and  agility.  He  begui  to  tronble  ibr  his 
nepbew;  and,  riaiog  hetare  the  lark,  wmdncAed  Boland  to 
church,  where  thej  both  heard  mass  uid  reoeived  ahedutaoo: 


arly  a«  thej  were  at  their  devotioiu,  they  fwund,  on  their 
return  to  the  puace,  tiie  punctual  Otuel  already  ncmnted  aftd 
anoed  at  nil  points.  'Hie  maUcicnu  Saraceu,  afibcting  to 
overlook  his  adversary,  addressed  the  king,  aod  inquired  after 
his  nephew.  "  Yesterday,"  said  he,  "  the  knight  was  iuU  of 
valour,  and  eager  to  fight  me ;  po'h^ie  he  baa  been  let  Mood, 
and  is  now  in  a  more  peacefiil  tenper  of  nrnd."  "  Thou 
shalt  soon  feel,"  answered  Roland,  "whether  myarm  is  blood- 
less." He  then  hastened  to  put  on  his  anoour ;  whilst  Otuel 
calmly  rode  off  to  tiie  place  of  combat,  a  amaU  peninsula  en 
which  they  could  fight  without  the  feai  of  tntcsruption. 

Rohmd  was  not  slow  in  following  to  the  appointed  ^ot; 
but  in  his  eagerness  he  missed  the  staiaight  road  which  Otuel 
had  puTVued,  and,  unwilling  to  trace  back  the  windins  faailk 
of  the  river,  spmred  his  steed  without  hesitation,  jMuiwed 
into  the  water,  and  swam  over  to  tho  t^poeite  aide.  Tbe 
encounter  of  the  two  chuiqiioBg  was  instant  and  tenihle. 
Theii  lances  were  shiveied;  their  hones  flaundared  at  die 
shock:  but  the  riden  were  ismioveable,  and,  having  taken 
their  pound,  drew  (iieir  «wards  and  began  a  oloaei  and  more 
decisive  conflict  Kohjid  .aimed  a  fiinotia  blow  nt  his  aata- 
gfBist,  but  it  glanced  by  lum  and  piereed  tbe  brain  'of  Ms 
hone ;  upon  which,  with  Ins  usoal  ceartmy,  he  reined  hook 
his  own,  and  waited  till  OtseL  had  disengaged  hinwelf,  widi- 
out  offering  to  renew  the  blow:  but  the  thankless  Saraoen 
only  mlHed  him  for  his  awkwardneas  in  miniiig  a  knight, 
whose  stature  afibrded  so  iair  an  aim  as  to  render  the 
butchery  of  the  iuxee  perfectly  inoxcufl^le,  OOul,  however, 
was  Boon  guilty  of  the  aaue  awkwardness,  and  oonscious  that 
his  raillery  might  now  be  redacted,  iaitated  the  gallantry  of 
Roland,  and  waited  till  he  had  jeaowasd  his  &et  and  could 
engage  on  equal  temiB, — 

And  said,  "  Relimd,  so  mote  h^  the, 

That  stroke  ich  meant  to  thee ; 

And  now  it  i*  on  thy  steed  y-stmt,' 

Let  now  stand  dunt  for  dont."  ■ 
The  £»ot-flotnbat  which  now  oonuBMiocd,  proved  that  the 


■  Di&t  lar  (Hat,  blow  ft»  blow.   . 

D,j,,..cjL,Goo^lc 


364  £AJLT   £XOLISH  XETSICAI.  SOKAJCCXS. 

SuMcen  was  worthy,  from  hu  strength,  his  sldll,  and  hie  vigi- 
iance,  to  eneoonter  the  inTineible  RolRnd;  yiha,  feeling  ■  high 
esteem  for  hia  of^wnent,  rewired  to  nuke  another  effort-  to 
conciliate  an  tsaemj  irho  mi^t,  if  once  ctmverted,  ^mive  a 
moat  raloable  nmporter  of  Christianity-  He  therefore  re- 
peated the  ofibr  abcady  made  by  Charienuigne,  promiBing  him 
aa  a  further  inducement  the  hand  of  the  beautiful  Beliaent. 
the  king's  daughter;  and  Otnel,  thongh  he  EtLU  refused  the 
prt^mMl,  now  condescended  for  the  £st  time  to  answer  in 
terms  of  coortesy.  In  the  mean  time,  Charlemagne,  who  was 
ft  near  spectator  of  the  combat,  ctmtinued  to  surrey  it  with 
increasing  tr^ndation.  Roland,  at  length,  growing  angry, 
made  a  dreadfid  Uow  at  the  head  of  Otael,  which  he  eraded 
by  a  sudden  motion  of  his  body;  but  the  sword  in  its  descent 
struck  him  on  the  loin  with  such  violence  as  to  bring  him 
with  one  knee  to  the  gronnd.  Charlemagne  exuHed ;  bnt  the 
Saracen  instantly  returned  a  stroke  so  well  aimed,  that  it 
cnit  away  a  congidenihle  port  of  Roland's  haubei^c,  and, 
thou^  it  produced  no  efiect  m  the  wearer,  terrified  the  kine 
to  such  a  degree,  that  he  b^^  to  anticipate  the  defeat  and 
death  of  his  nefduw.  In  dus  extremity  he  feQ  on  his  knees, 
directing  all  his  courtiers  to  imitate  his  example,  and  to  pray 
to  heaTen  with  all  possiUe  terrennr  that  the  heart  of  Otoel 
might  be  turned,  and  that  he  mi^it  become  a  proeelrte. 
They  did  so;  and  the  miracle  immediately  icdlowed.  A  white 
cnlTer  descended  dirourii  the  air,  and,  in  the  si^t  of  all  the 
multitude,  gently  perSked  upon  the  crest  of  Otnel,  who, 
retreating  a  few  steps,  demanded  a  parley. 

And  said,  "  Rtdand,  thou  smitest  foil  sore ! 

Withdraw  thine  hond,  and  smiteth  no  more. 

Gif  thou  wilt  holden  ih»t  thou  me  bet,' 

Hist  ich  shall  wed  that  maiden  sweet. 

The  kingis  dai^ter  Belieent, 

Fonooth,  then  is  my  wille  went,* 

Qif  I  shaQ  wedden  that  &ir  may, 

Ich  will  belieren  upon  thy  lay,* 

And  allc  mine  gods  forsake, 

And  to  your  God  ich  will  take." 
Roland  rephed  that  he  was  oreijoyed  at  this  <^u>i^  of 
sentiment,  and  sincerely  thankiul  to  "  Jesn  full  of  nu^t," 
throng^  whose  special  grace  it  had  been  oper^ed.     The  two 
■  Mr  iadiBalkn  fixed.  *L«r. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


8IK  OTTEI,.'  365 

champHms  now  thiew  awE^  their  swoids,  and  nuhed  into 
604^  otlter's  arms,  "  embracing  and  Vi—i«g  aa  if  they  Imi 
been  brothers;"  and  Charletiiagne,  who  fipeedilj  joined  them, 
felt  at  least  an  equal  joy  in  ratifying  the  conditiona  offered  bv 
hia  ne[^ew,  obaervins  that  with  fonr  anch  knights  aa  Roland, 
Olivier,  Ogier  le  Damoa,  and  Otuel,  he  mig^t  bid  defiance  to 
the  muted  powen  of  the  Saiacen  monuchs.  l^ey  then 
repaired  to  the  palace,  where  they  were  welcomed  by  the 
"  mirth  and  melody  of  all  maimer  of  minitrelay,"  in  honour 
of  Otnel'B  conversion;  and  on  the  fallowing  dav  the  new 
proaelyte  received  the  gift  of  follanght  (Imptiem)' from  the 
hands  of  ArchbiBhop  Ti^in. 

It  was  Charlemagne's  wish  that  the  wedding  should  iinme* 
diately  take  place:  but 

Otuel  to  the  king  said, 
"  Sire,  keep  me  well  that  maid; 
Forsooth  ich  n'ill  her  never  w^ 
Ne  never  with  her  go  to  bed. 
Ere  this  war  to  the  end  be  tetinght. 
And  somewhat  of  thy  will  wrought. 
When  King  Qarsie  is  slawe  or  take,' 
Then  is  time  marriage  to  make." 
Charles,  much  pleased  with  tl^  military  zeal  of  his  son-in- 
law,  summoned  a  council  of  the  twelve  peers,  and  referred  it 
to  them  to  decide  whether  he  should  mmiediately  asaemUe 
such  forces  as  could  be  brought  together  and  march  against 
Garsie,  or  wait  till  the  conclusion  of  the  winter.     The  latter 
was  decided  on,  and  the  remainder  of  the  Tear  was  passed  in 
making  preparations;  so  that  they  took  the  field  in  spring, 
with  an  army  not  less  formidable  from  its  numbers  than  frcmi 
its  discipline.     A  day  of  battle  was  appointed,  as  usual,  and 
a  field  chosen  for  the  purpose,  by  agreement  between  tho 
hostile  sovereigns;  after  wluch,  Charles,  marching  into  Lom.- 
bardy,  encamped  on  a  ^■acious*  plain,  with  hie  advanced  guard 
on  the  banks  of  a  river,  the  other  side  of  which  was  occupied 
by  the  enemy.     A  4iridge  constructed  by  the  French  engi- 
neers, where  the  ground  was  movt  &vour&ble  to  their  troops, 
gave  them  the  means  of  seizing  the  beat  moment  for  me 
general  attack. 

But  a  bridge  afibrded  a  temptation  which  French  knights 
could  not  resist;  and  Roland,  Olivier,  and  Ogier  le  Daoois, 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


980  £1ALT  ESOLISH  KXXBIO&L  SOMAITCES. 

Amtgh  all  inarated  with  k^  omtmmik  in  tiw  tm^,  ime 
dec^^  by  the  fiieilily  of  pnmn^  their  ymiaar,  ami  set  off 
oae  manHng  befbte  Btunim  in  seudi  of  adrentKres.  llteir 
fiist  ex[doit  WM  8u&aeUdy  fottmtte.  tbej  m*t  tanr  San- 
o«B  princes,  caUed,  "  at  we  find  in  ranannee,"  Eim^dea, 
Ttfi.*— .m,  Aatnimd.  and  ClaRi;  attaebd  t^n,  kilkd  ite 
tbrae  fizst,  nude  Oac^  pmoacx,  and  w«re  rettming  widi  d 
haste  to  tbor  own  camp,  when  &fj  perctind  that  their 
retraat  wm  cHMtMUr  en*  off  bj-  a  lai^  body  of  dw  enen^. 
It  now  became  neeoutaty  eilher  to  mnrdcT  or  ■ii*"''—  dies 
prisoDer,  who  waa  moulded  bdind  Ogier;  and  as  it  would 
have  been  base  to  deettoy  a  knight  mo  bai  basted  ta  dtat 
It^alty,  they  lib^sted  CkFd.'  tM  afta  vmaring  to  defend 
each  other  to  the  utmost  of  their  power,  and  mnfcing  numher- 
leaa  signs  of  the  cross  in  toke»  of  their  aniesemed  submission 
to  the  decrees  of  Prtrndanoey  set  spurs  to  their  horses,  and 
mshed  forward  into  the  nmks  of  ^  enemy,  &H>n^  which 
they  were  resolved  to  rat  thntinlTes  a  piwusge- 

The  attempt  was  oertaiidyrstbBrde^emte;  bat  the  three 
friends  were  no  ooaamm  kni^ls,  and  the  Someens  who  en- 
deavouied  to  st(^  their jpngreaa  wotdd  hav«  acted  more  wisely 


by  snf&Tine  them  to  e«ct  their  pwipose.  These  were  Biron, 
Basean,  and  Uoter.  all  three  eaTahen  i^  grcsA  prowess,  who 
wer«  sueeessirely  killed,  together  wit^  a  great  number  of 
theU'  followera.  But  the  Saraceae  wen:  now  anemUing  from 
sU  qnarteia.  The  sondan  of  Tahaiie,  named  Carmel,  arrired 
in  time  to  rally  the  fugitiTea,  and,  attaining  Ogier  le  Danois, 
threw  him,  eererely  wounded,  to  the  grtmnd.  Another  son- 
dan,-  called  Anawe  of  Nnbta,  rode  to  meet  (KiTier,  aikd  un- 
horsed him.  Bolsnd  indeed  killed  them  both,  and  enabled 
Olivier  to  remount;  hot  while  tbcae  two  heroes  were  witii 
great  difficnlty  nuhjM^  th«r  way  throng  the  crowds  whieh 
oi^oaed  them,  the  wounded  Ogier  was  still  on  foot,  assailed 
on  all  sides,  and  eftotnaUy  cut  off  from  his  companiaos.  At 
this  moiaent,  Kii^  Clard  perceiTed  his  sitnatioa,  and,  riding 
up,  advised  him  to  sunaider,  and  received  his  swcsd. 

Clarel  was  no  wedded  nan; 

darrihnda  fiur  leman, 

1  Dniing  thor  delwte  npOD  thii  anbject,  Olrrur  swesn  "  b;  the  Invnl 
Saml  WeAorrf."  by  vhidl  it  would  acem  that  our  Bkhanl  1.  bad,  when 
tha  Wracb  originil  of  Oaa  nMuaee  ms  ceu^osad,  beoi  oowiiaed  hj 
■nimtnl  uUiaril;. 


J  L,  Google 


aim  osDzL.  381 

That  WM  hoten'  Aa&iiie, 
Aikd  was  bom  itt  Ertncny. 
ClBt^  aooD  Tightt,' 
Cleped^  to  bim  two  Im^ts, 
Asa  Mid  to  him  aixm, 
"  To  mjr  Jemam  shoU  je  gtm. 
Aad  My  that  I  Bent  her  this  knigfat. 
And,  that  bii  wound  be  healed  aii^Ll, 
And  good  heed  to  hui  noja^' 

To  BBTen  Jiirn  rill  mw.tn.rfmn^  "* 

Whitst  O^er  waa  thns  m«de  |>nMmer  1^  the  bud  whom  he 
had  hoped,  a  few  houn  before,  to  cany  to  the  feet  of  Charie- 
msgne,  and  whilst  Roland  and  OHmer  woe  glad,  after  a  long 
and  dangerous  stra^Ie,  to  nre  tbemselreB  from  the  same 
cahuDoity  bj  a  preoipitste  fli^t,  Otoel  had  quietfy  cDneerted 
the  b&A  meaaurea  to  repair  the  bad  efiects  of  their  nsbaeas. 
Having  aimed  hiiMelf  and  all  hie  knights,  he  r^aired  to 
ChsultvuigM, 

And  nid,  "  Su«,  ich  dwell  too  kmg! 

Bohnd,  OliTier,  and  Ogier  the  strong. 

Over  the  water  alle  three 

Beth  y-went,'  for  enTj  of  me, 

To  look  wba»  they  mighten  speed 

To  don  any  doa^ty  deed, 

Among  the  Saracens  bold : 

And  I  should  be  coward  hold. 

Therefiire  I  oe  will  no  longer  abide; 

To  sechen  hon  ich  weJ  ride. 

ThoD^  they  bebbm  ca*T  of  me, 

Ich  will,  for  the  lore  o(  uwe, 

Fonden'  whelho'  ic&  m^t  conten 

To  helpes  hem,  lest  they  weven  y-nomen. 

And  gif  hem  any  harm  betit,* 

IiBt  hem  witen  her  own  wit."* 
The  king  expressed  to  him  the  most  liv^  gi«titude,  and 
earnestly  entreated  him  to  p«^  ftnwaid  with  alt  possible 
expedition,  assming  him  that  the  wbcde  army  should  be  im- 
mediately  marched  forward  ba  the  purpose  <£  assisting  hia 
efibrts.  Otnel,  ther^ore,  haTiag  with  him  many  of  the 
dota^ptfu,  and  aH  the  youngeet  and  most  active  (A  the  French 

■C»!W.  «  Right  »aon;  immBdUlfly.  »  CmlW.  *  T.km.  '  Arri«l. 
'Are  gone.  ''Try.  *  Htthh^poiedi  bctid«d>  •Tknikthdi' own  wisdom. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


368  XAKT.T   EKOLISH  XETXIOAL  BOHUtCZS. 

csTiilry,  croflaed  &e  rivier,  and  galloped  oa  st  fiiU  speed  to  tbe 
TOMue  of  the  fiends.  He  had  not  advanced  fiu-  before  he 
met  the  two  fugitiT««,  who  instantly  checked  Iheir  horses,  and 
turoed  bock  with  him  to  chai^  the  enemy;  but,  being  ques- 
tioned bv  him  respecting  the  &te  of  C^er,  were  obli°;(^  to 
answer  diat  they  had  lost  eight  of  him  long  since,  and  that, 
being  mnch  wounded,  he  was  likely  to  hare  fidlen  into  the 
hands  <rf  the  enemy. 

"Alas!  alas!"  qnath  Otoel, 
"Hiis  tiding- liketh  me  nought  wdl! 
Sire  Charles,  my  lord  the  king. 
Wol  be  sorry  for  this  tiding! 
Fra-  Oodis  love,  hie  we  blire.' 
And  tocA  we  <i^ether  (^er  be  aliTe!" 
fioland  and  Olirier  were  not  less  anxioiu  than  himself  to 
recover  theii  lost  companion;  and  these  Ibrmidable  knidbts 
w«re  exerting  their  utmost  speed  for  this  pnrpose,  when  ucir 
way  was  crossed  by  a  Saracen,  whose  name  not  unapUy  de- 
scribed his  qualities,  the  huge  and  redoubtable  Encun^irer. 
Otael,  with  tbe  rapidity  of  li|^tning.  pierced  tbe  massive 
champion,  and  overthrew  his  black  bane;  whilst  Roland, 
Olivier,  ond  Eetuyt  of  hegtxt,  bore  down  three  more  of 
Qanie's  officcis,  and  thus  set  an  example  to  the  ivst  of  the 
French  knights,  which  they  followed  with  their  araal  impe- 
tuosi^.     A  king  <d  India,   named  Erpater,  armed  with  a 
mace  of  brass,  ventmed  to  attack  the  gallant  Otud,  and  sbudt 
him  with  a  violence  which  would  have  sttmned  a  common 
hero;  but  was  BO<m  pimiahed  for  his  temerity,  being  cloven 
from  the  head  to  the  shoulders.     Clarel  alone,  the  fiercest 
of  (he  remaining  Saracens,  was  able  to  t^ipose  some  reustance 
to  the  French  knights,  and  to  stop  fbr  a  short  time  the  dis- 
order of  his  own  boops;  who,  however,  were  only  saved  from 
H  total  defeat  by  the  approach  of  night,  and  conseqamt  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities. 

Tho  the  ost  was  vrithdiaw. 
To  resten  hem,  as  is  the  law,* 
King  Clarel  came,  in  form  of  peace, 
W'iui  three  fellows,  ne  mo  ne  less. 
Towards  Charles's  ost  the  king, 
and  Otuel  went  to  meet  him,  and  to  inquire  into  the  parpoct 
of  his  embassy.     Clarel,  instead  of  answering  his  questions, 
'  Qniddf.  ■  Cnitom. 


j„..;uL,  Google 


b^ged  in  the  fint  instaDce  to  know  his  name,  haTing  liad 
many  apportimitiee,  during  ihe  late  battle,  of  witneasing  his 
unparalleled  prowese. 

"  By  God,  fellow,"  quath  Otuel, 

"  &e  this  thon  know  my  name  full  well ! 

So  Ood  shield  me  from  shame, 

Otuel  is  my  Christian  name! 

Mahoun  ich  habbe  forsake. 

And  Jesu  ich  habbe  me  take." 
His  discoreiy  produced,  as  mi^t  be  naturally  expected,  a 
violent  dispute  and  quarrel  between  the  Christian  convert  and 
the  rigid  Saracen,  and  ended  by  a  determination  of  fiehting, 
next  morning,  a  duel  in  the  Chrisldan  camp ;  Otuel  navins 
prerioualy  pledged  his  honour  that  no  insult  ^ould  be  ofibred 
to  his  antagooist,  and  that  the  merit  of  their  respectiTe  reli- 
gions should  be  fiiirl^  tried  by  an  appeal  to  the  sword.  Clarel 
wasponctnoltabis  time,andatday  break  appeared  fiiUy  armed 
before  the  royal  panlion ;  where,  relying  on  his  safe-conduct,  he 
thought  fit,  whDe  expecting  the  arriml  of  Otuel,  to  amose 
himself  with  insulting  the  venerable  person  of  Charlemagne^^ 

And  said,  "  Charles,  thou  art  old! 

'Who  made  thee  now  so  bold 

To  wairen  upon  King  Garsie, 

That  is  chief  of  all  Pa^nie? 

All  Paynie  he  hareth  m  w(M;' 

Thou  doatest,  tbo  thon  art  eo  bold !" 
Chariea,  it  must  be  confessed,  had  submitted  to  still  greotn 
inBults  from  Otuel;  but  then  he  had  been  in  some  degree 
taken  by  surprise ;  besides  which,  that  chief,  was  a  privileged 
ambassadra,  and  moreover  the  nephew  of  Ferragus  the  giant; 
whereas  he  was  now  elated  with  victory,  and  thraeby  rendered 
ao  iiaacible  that  he  determined  on  the  instant  to  punish 
Claim's  presumption,  and  actually  sent  for  his  armour  and 
|B;epored  for  the  combat.  It  is  even  probable  that  Qie  expoe- 
tolalionB  of  Koland  and  of  his  other  knights  would  have  been 


qnar 
Oat 


on  a  thetJt^ical  £spute;  and  consequently 

bis  mtf^esty,  thoufj^  he  nad  "  sworn  his  oath,"  ought  in 
pretest  initanoe  to  desist,  leaving  to  hiu  tlie  task  of 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


S70  KAKLT  EMOUBH  nmaCXI.  BOltANCXS. 

ptmuUng  Clarel  for  In  mntaken  apaoaaa  ia  lebgicm,  aid  for 
fats  uuutBmpt  of  old  cutperoTB. 

In  the  combat  with  the  lance,  both  AawfiimB  kcic,  u 
omal,  bron^t  to  tbe  gro^Ml;  after  whidi  thi^  diev  their 
swords,  and  bnfi^ted  each  other  for  a  ccmpetent  time,  and 
then,  growing  veiy  angry,  motnally  exat«d  all  their  pow»«. 
At  this  period  of  die  battle,  Clare)  mada  a  blow-  at  his  adver- 
sary, which  nearly  stunned  him,  and  which  be  promised  to 
repay. 

Otnel.  for  wrath,  wion 

Aretgfat'  him  on  the  eheek-bcRie; 

AQ  tfao  Ml  off  that  was  there, 

And  made  his  teeth  aU  htae. 

Hm  Otnel  nw  his  cheek-bone. 

He  gRve  Clarel  a  soon,  anon. 

And  fiud,  "  CSard !  so  BHote  Aau  the. 

Why  (hewest  tbon  thy  teeth  to  me! 

I  nam  no  tooth-diawere ! 

TTiou  tie  seest  me  no  cham"  bear," 

Clarel  feeled  him  wtnmded  bchc. 

And  was  maimed  for  evermofe ; 

And  smote  to  Otuel  with  all  bis  m^L 

And  Ot«el,  that  lioughty  knight. 

With  his  Bword  kept  the  dent 

That  Clarel  bim  had  y-meut. 

And  yet  the  dint  slode  adown. 

And  smote  Otoei  upon  the  oown. 

Ooath  Otuel,  "  B^  Oodis  are, 

Saracen,  thou  smitest  ftdl  sore! 

Sith  tiien  thy  beard  was  y-sbwve, 

^nion  art  woxen  a  statmg  u&vBr* 

Otnel  smote  Clarel  tho 

O  stroke,  and  no  mo, 

Hat  never  eft  word  be  ne  spake. 
ITie  event  of  this  combat  was  celebrated  by  festiritics  and 
rejoicings  in  ^ic  camp  of  Charles,  and  spread  grief  «nd  oob- 
stematton  Enough  that  of  Garsie,  who,  however,  detennuitd 
on  lerenge,  and  meditated  a  generEil  attadi  on  the  CSaistians 
at  the  moment  when  they,  inftffmed  by  spies  ofhisroteDliaBB, 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


SIS  ore  EL.  371 

marched  ibmaid  for  the  pmpcMe  of  nwiling  him.  The 
armies  booh  met;  nnd  the  battle  began,  as  nsnm,  by  a  gkir- 
miah  of  the  principal  t^cera  on  both  sides.  A  Tnrquein  of 
gnat  ptnvess,  but  whose  mune  is  not  mentioned,  rode  against 
BolflBd,  and  caused  hi'm  to  loee  one  of  hia  atim^,  but  on  a 
BeooBd  chaise  iFos  killed  by  the  CSmstbrn  knight.  A  se««d, 
nmed  Myw9e  of  Bagounde,  unhorsed  and  woimded  Olivier, 
but  was  inirtantly  pierced  by  the  spear  of  Roland.  A  third, 
called  OaUtin,  viae  slain  by  Obiel.  At  the  same  time  a 
young  and  bcEirdless  knight,  foUoved  by  a  troop  of  bachelora, 
all  under  twenty  years  of  age,  nobly  seooaded  the  efforts  of 
the  three  Christian  heroes,  and  spread  terror  through  the  runks 
of  tha  Saracens.  He  had  even  the  honour  of  capturing  a  Tur- 
ki(^  prince,  named  Coureaber,  nud  of  sending  him  as  his 
prisoner  to  Charlemagne;  but,  being  carried  too  &r  by  his 
■mpetnosi^,  was  iu  imminent  danger  of  being  killed  by  the 
terrible  Foidns  of  Barbftiy,  when  he  was  rescued  by  Otuel, 
who  asEttulted  Poidras  so  Tt(4ently  "  that  there  he  lay  like  a 
sticked  swine." 

Oarsie,  vho  perceived  that  many  of  his  best  knights  had 
fijten,  end  that  the  dang^v  of  the  battle  were  likdy.  to 
^pnmch  his  sacred  person,  began  to  feel  gteat  di^leasure; 
and  eallmg  to  Arperaunt,  one   of   his  Avourite  adviaara, 
reminded  him  that  the  de&at  of  the  French  and  Ae  ponisfa- 
ment  of  Otuel  had  been  e^demnly  decayed  in  «oiiacil,  a^ 
requested  him  to  propose  immediately  some  easy  means  of 
carrying  that  decree  into  ^&et.     Arperaunt  frankly  ooniesaed 
that  whilst  Bolaitd  and  Olivier  were  alive,  and  OtueL'  oon- 
timied  to  brandish  his  good  sword  Corrouge,  he  saw  no  aede 
of  acoompUshing  those  salutary  measmes:  upon  whidi  Oacne, 
addres^ng  himself  to  fialdolf  of  Aquilent,  a  general  (rfkaMHm 
hardihood,  ordered  him  to  stop  the  fbntives  and  lead  them 
agaiut  the  Christians,  promising  to  follow  in  person  witli 
t£e  rest  of  the  army,  and  to  assiet  in  Hie  capture  of  Otuel. 
Quath  Baldolf,  "  By  Sire  Mahoun, 
Laverd,  we  wiH  don  what  we  moun'. 
And  come  thou  after,  and  take  heed 
Which  maimer  that  we  speed ;  ■'; 

And,  gif  thou  seest  that  need  be,  it 

Come  and  help  us  ere  we  flee. 

3b3 


j„..;uL,  Google 


372  XA.KLT  ZNJLTBS  KXTSICl.^  SOIfAVCU- 

For,  when  a  host  to  flight  is  went. 
But  succour  come,  it  ahal  be  shent." 
Baldolf  kept  his  word,  and  did  what  he  could ;  and  Kar- 
nifeei,  one  of  the  fiercest  of  the  Saracen  champions,  assisted 
him  80  manfully  that  they  succeeded  for  a  time  in  rallying 
tfieir  troops;  but  Eamifees,  being  so  rash  as  to  encounter 
Otuel,  was  speedily  killed,  after  which  the  disorder  of  the 
Saracens  becMne  irrecoverable. 

The  Saracens  were  so  adreod, 
Into  the  water  many  fled; 
Some  swam,  and  some  sunk. 
And  cold  water  enough  they  drunk. 
Hie  author  has  now  the  good  nature  to  recollect  the  unfor- 
tunate Ogier  le  Danoie,  whom  he  had  left  some  time  since  a 
prisoner,  under  the  care  of  Clarel's  leman.  This  fair  Arme- 
nian began  by  curing  his  wounds;  but,  after  the  ^ath  of 
Clarel,  treated  him  with  great  severity,  and  confined  bun  in 
a  dungeon  under  tiie  guard  of  seven  knights.  Fortunately 
tliere  was  &  noble  squire,  who  took  pity  on  his  gufitring.  and 
determined  to  share  bis  fortunes,  llirough  his  means,  Ogier 
recovered  his  horse  and  arms,  and  forthwith  killed  four  out 
of  the  seven  knights,  his  jailors ;  and  then  hastening  to  the 
castle-gate,  obtained  tiie  means  of  escape  through  the  device 
of  the  same  squire,  who  persuaded  the  porter  that  they  were 
two  adventurers  going  in  search  of  plunder  to  the  Christian 
camp,  and  promised  him  a  shore  of  their  booty.  Thus  was 
the  good  Ogier  liberated  from  prison,  and  thus  had  he  the 
good  fortune  of  contributing  his  share  towards  the  final  dis- 
comfoiture  of  the  unbelievers.  Though  he  had  ridden  aU 
night  without  once  alighting,  the  joy  of  seeing  his  old  com- 
panions, Roland  and  Olivier,  and  the  amusement  of  killing 
Saracens,  prevented  his  feeling  fatigue  or  requiring  any  other 
refreshment;  and  it  may  be  prcGumed  that  iiis  norse,  who 
readily  took  his  usual  place  in  the  battle,  must  have  par- 
ticipated in  the  feelings  of  his  rider. 

^Hie  fortune  of  the  day,  as  wc  have  seen,  was  already 
decided;  and  the  arrival  of  such  a  warrior  as  Ogier  could  not 
fiul  of  precipitating  the  flight  of  the  enemy.  Oorsie,  who 
had  advanced  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  Otuel,  findiiu( 
this  impracticable,  rode  off  towards  his  tents,  and  was  mni£ 
surprised  at  being  overtaken  by  his  ungracious  coasin,  and  bj 
his  three  CSuistian  compaoiona: 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


BIS  OTUEL.  873 

Kiiig  Onrsie  taide  this ; 
"  For  his  lore  that  God  Js, 
Taketh  me  olive,  and  slayeth  me  nonght; 
liCt  my  life  be  for-bougbt!' 
And  let  me,  as  a  prisoim,'  gon 
£efore  King  Charlee  anon. 
And  don  him  homage  vith  mine  bond. 
To  holden  of  him  aU  my  lond." 
Utuel  obaerred  to  his  three  compnniooa,  that  there  seemed 
to  bo  no  objection  to  saving  the  life  of  a  man  wboae  death 
would  be  perfectly  improfitable  to  all  parties ,  and  they  having 
agreed  in  the  same  opinion,  he  conducted  his  prisoner  to 
(Smrlemagne,  and  explained  to  him  that  Garsic  had  only 
stipulated  for  the  preservation  of  his  life,  and  had  voluntarily 
consented  to  a  state  of  unconditional  vassalage  and  depen- 
dance  on  the  crown  of  France. 

Ttma  ends  the  Auchinleclc  MS. — In  the  continuation  of 
the  story,  Otuel  appean  to  be  almost  foigotten,  though  hia 
name  occurs  two  or  three  times  towards  the  end  of  tlie 
romance,  for  the  sole  purpose,  as  it  should  seem,  of  justifying 
its  title.  I  bare  alr^tdy  observed  that  such  a  continuation 
would  scarcely  deserve  notice,  but  that  it  presents  us  with 
the  concluding  scene  in  Turpin's  history,  the  battle  of  Bon- 
cesvalles. 

Charles  having  thus  terminated  the  campaign  of  Lombardy, 
led  hie  unsuccessful  rival  to  Paris,  where  Graraie,  convinced  that 
it  was  out  of  the  power  of  Mahomet  or  Apolyn  to  obtain  for 
him  such  terms  as  he  might  secure  by  emlu^cing  Christianity, 
consented  to  be  baptized  by  the  hands  of  Archbishop  Turpin. 
Soon  after  this,  Charles  received  intelligence  that  Ibrahim, 
king  of  Seville,  having  united  his  forces  with  those  of  the 
king  of  Cordee,  was  encamped  near  that  city;  he  therefore 
collected  an  army  with  all  possible  cxpedi^OD,  and  marched 
to  attack  them.     He  found  them 

With  bataylea  stem  ten ; 
The  first  waren  fbot-meu 

That  grishehe  were  of  cheer; 
With  hair  they  were  be-hong. 
And  beardys  swithe  long. 
And  hontes  in  bond  hare. 
These  ugly  troops  were  ako  provided  -with  numberless  belU 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


374  SASLT   EXOLISH   KETBICAI. 

and  other  sonoraos  instruments,  whidL  added  to  the  Udeoas 
■lioats  and  wBa  with  whidi  ibey  adwMcd  to  the  attack 
srodnced  a  oiMoad  Irair  diabolical.  It  wiU  readily  be  be- 
fiered  that  the  ralorons  knigfata,  who  (bntted  the  T«n  of  the 
C^iristian  army,  were  Te^  little  diabirbed  either  by  the 
abominahle  featniefl,  or  by  the  gnteaqoe  gesticidations,  or  by 
the  discordant  aones  of  these  nueotith  aatagonwts:  but  their 
hraaes,  which  were  perfectly  naptqiied  far  an  <!foimter  with 
■aek  — ""-i""  in  masqaaade,  nttedy  refiaad  to  a{^n«di 
Acan,  and  when  laused  by  the  Rpnr  ttaai  the  letbu^  <^ 
*■*—■•*■——*  into  which  they  had  been  pfam^ed  hy  the  nnex- 
pected  sight,  snddealy  diqiersed  in  all  diiectKHis,  and,  dmtg- 
ing  the  Fnmiii  in&alry  wilh  the  rapidity  of  l^tning.  tlnew 
thiem  into  eonfnsiae;  after  which,  commnnicating  the  panic 
to  the  body  of  rea^-tc,  they  hunied  the  sstmiiahed  Chaile- 
magne,  together  with  his  twelve  peers,  serexal  miles  from  the 
field  of  batUe. 

"nie  in&ntry,  haviw  at  length  gained  a  commandii^  emi- 
iK»ce.  were  emily  lalHed.  beomse  they  could  not  nm  mndL 
ftntiter;  but  it  was  not  tiU  late  in  the  ereaing  that  they  were 
joined  by  the  canby.  when  the  idag  comnMiaded  them  to 
jMtch  their  tents.  On  the  tbDowii^  morning  he  gare  orden 
that  tha  ean  of  all  the  boises  in  the  anny  sbooU  be  canfiiily 
stopped  with  wul,  and  that  they  should  at  the  same  time  oe 
howl-winked;  after  whidi  he  marched  fwwaid  in  good  ooder 
to  BMet  the  ^mny.  The  Saracens  were  now  repaked  in  dteir 
tarn;  but  nainbuned  ^  obstinate  conflict  in  defence  of  their 
sacaed  standard,  whic^  was  carried  in  a  car  drawn  by  twdra 
oxts).  On  this  oocaam.  Charleaagne  exhilated  the  gtcalcat 
beroisni.  and  drawii^  his  good  swoid  Joyeoae,  rushed  into 
the  midst  of  his  enooiee,  forced  his  way  to  the  standard,  cut 
in  two  the  hmg  and  massive  spear  on  which  it  was  T«ired, 
and  shortly  after  clove  the  skull  vt  the  fnocioas  Ibrahim,  the 
tyrant  of  Sei-ille.  Eisht  thousand  Saracens  fell  in  this  battle; 
and  on  the  following  oay  the  kii^  <tf  Cordes,  who  had  escaped 
into  the  city,  nas  forced  to  sonender,  and  to  do  bomage  to 
n>arles,  after  promisjag  to  lenoaiice  his  former  ciecd,  and  to 
embrace  the  doctrines  of  Christiaiuty. 

Immediately  after  thiB  rietory,  the  French  anny  was  called 
off  to  repress  the  inroads  tit  the  king  itf  Navarre ;  pud  on  this 
•ecasimi  the  pious  Charles  was  gratified  by  a  &edi  mnade. 
It  is  wcU  known  Oat  tboee  wb>  die  in  battle  against  tlte 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


UX    OTtTEK.  37? 

ia£dd«  are  rewarded  b^&e  crown  of  BMurtjidom;-  and  if  this 
were  not  a  matter  oteomve,  itwaa  in  thepreomt  case  secured' 
by  the  ex^rees  pianua»  made,  by  fit  JanKs  to  Charles  in  his 
Bleep,  Now  the  sood  king  wtaned  to  know  how  many  of  his 
knights  were  {«e&ttiiMl  to  Iom  their  live*  ob  this  oceasicnt, 
aad  prayed  to  heaven  that  his  ourioBifrr  might  be  satLsfied. 
Aoewdisgly  the  intendeil  -nctima  were  ail  mu^rad  with  a  red 
ciDBB  on  their  ehonldei;  bat  Cbariee,  finding  their  number 
lOMtb  graatM  than  he  e^»e«ted,  and  wishing  to  obtain  a 
cheaper  Tictny,  iet  then  all  behiD^  in  a  place  trf  security, 
attKiced  the  enemy,  sained  the  battle,  and  lettmed  withovt 
loM.  In  Hie  meut  tune  those  for  whom  he  had  been  thrm 
et^ieitouB  had  ail  expired:  and  thns  did  the  good  king  learn 
thst  it  is  ludeas  to  oppose  the  designs  of  Proridence. 

Hiring  at  length  secured  the  sabmiaaton  of  Spain,  by  dis- 
tiiibuting  all  hia  conquests  either  amongst  his  own  friends  or 
nnifmgitt  those  of  his  bcne&otor  St.  Jnoes,  Chariemagne 
beeaae  deoKma  of  retamii«  into  Prance ;  bat  fe^tog  some 
mwaaiafm  at  lesTing  btJund  hisa  tw»  Saracen  kings,  named 
Manin  sad.  Baligand,  who  then  tesided  at  Baragossa,  he  dis- 
pateiied  aa.  unimsnaAwr  to  inform  t^iem  that  they  most  imme- 
diatdy  oonsOBt^tD  be  bt^tised,  or  else  pay  him  tribute.  The 
ambassador  whom  he  chose  (or  this  misskm  was  the  celebrated  ' 
QuiaM  or  'T""!'^!  wkeae  doty  to  his  sovereign  and  to  his 
cooiiry  was  sool  oveautwcied'  by  a  pnwcat  of  thirty  nMMrt 
(beasta  of  bartlna)  Inian  with  geU  s^  silTer,  which  the 
artAil  Sotaecna  oCned  to  Ihbi  on  ctmdition  of  his  undertaking 
1  kaA  the  Ftgim^  anuy  into  the  defiles  <^  the  forest  of 


Aid  tfantti  Bteedes  with  gold  fine 
To  Chades  8«it  that  Sarraain, 

All  thajr  wwe  white  ae  floor; 
And  an  hundred  tuns  of  wine, 
TlMt  WM  both  good  and  fine, 
And  Bwiihe  feir  ccdour.' 
At  the  aaae  tisae  they  permitted  Gaueloa  to  make,  in  their 
name,  whatever  promises  he  might  think  necessary  for  pie- 
rentiaff  any  saepicions  in  the  mind  of  Chaiten^ne. 

1  Gagoin,  in  his  tmulatuRt  of  Torpin.  adds  to  tliit  pnuit  ■  liraanndr 
beaolifil  duDMls,  "pour  n  (aic  L  lenr  *oa1ent^,"  uid  fuithir  eipluiu  tn 
Bl  the  ml  cBon  of  the  teiilblp  duaiitR'  which  befel  tbs  Chriitiuu ;  Hot 
pH  hning  been  too  tanpting  far  ttteir  iiite». 

D,j„.„_,  Cookie 


U.KLT  XltaLiaH  XXTUCAI.  XOIUVCBI. 


1  witn  gra 
1  such  «  diapoaition  of  the  VteaA  armj  m 
Se  destnicdon  of  RolaDd  and  of  all  faia  OQm] 
CSmrics  in  person  commanded  one>half  of  the  army,  i 
•nflered  to  paw  the  monutains  mimolected,  and  to  descend 
into  the  open  country;  but  no  aoooer  had  Boland,  who  coo- 
dncted  the  second  division,  adTanoed  into  the  foreat  of  Boncea- 
TaDea,  than  he  foond  binisdf  attacked  on  all  aidea  by  dte 
Saiaoena,  who  had  been  prerionsly  poated  cm  ereiy  eminenee, 
and  had  concerted  every  meanue  for  the  snnKiae  of  the  Cbris- 
tiaaa.  Bidand,  a>  might  be  expected,  made  a  detperate  re- 
astance,  and,  bring  aansted  by  all  the  best  Iaii|dits  of  France, 
nearly  annihilated  the  first  body  of  bis  awaiTantn;  bnt  the 
Saraceiu  contuined  to  receive  constant  leinfiwcements,  while 
the  Christians  were  exhausted  by  fatigue  and  hmwer.  Ccat- 
stantinc  of  Rome,  Ogier  le  Danois,  Reynald  de  Momtwibaii, 
Kr  Bertram  the  standord-beaier,  and  many  others  of  lesa  rmte, 
ttfter  peribrmine  prodigiea  of  valosr,  were  socceasiTefy  dain. 
Olivier,  covered  with  wounds,  was  at  length  overpowered, 
and  Boland,  after  singly  cottir^  his  way  throngfa  the  enemy, 
perceived  that  aO  hopes  of  retreat  were  Joet,  and  that  nothii^ 
remained  for  him  but  to  seek  fbr  an  cyportunity  of  dying 
bonoumbly  in  the  field. 

After  wandering  fbr  some  time  in  the  forest,  he  discovered 
a  single  Saracen,  whom  he  secured  and  bonrkd  to  a  tree ;  after 
^aiiicn,  having  gained  an  eminence  fitnn  whence  he  conld  dis- 
cover the  situation  of  the  enemy,  he  sounded  his  ivory  hMn, 
collected  round  him  a  small  number  of  his  fugitive  stddiera, 
and,  returning  with  them  to  his  prisoner,  onboimd  him,  and 
promised  him  life  on  condition  that  1^  should  point  out  to 
dtem  the  person  of  Sing  Marsire.  The  Saracen  readily 
obeyed,  and  showed  him  l£e  king  mounted  on  a  bay  charger, 
and  bearing  a  golden  dragon  on  his  shield ;  upon  iraieh 
Roland,  setting  spurs  to  his  horse,  dashed  throu^  the  sur- 
rounding guards,  and  with  one  blow  clove  hia  enemy  to  the 
saddle-bows.  Baligand  collected  the  remains  of  the  Saracen 
army,  and  retreated  to  Saragossa. 

ludand,  now  covered  with  wounds,  and  beginning  to  su^r 
severely  from  fever  and  fiom  thirvt,  dismounted  from  nis  horae, 
laydownnrkder  a  tree,  and,  drawing  his  good  sword  Dnrindale*  - 
""     "     '  ■»  make  his  mt 

d  thereupcm, 

D,j„.„^L,  Google 


SIB  OTOXL.  377 

As  be  it  held  m  his  hond. 
"  O  eword  of  great  miglit, 
Better  bare  never  no  knight, 

To  win  with  no  loud ! 
Thou  hast  y-be  in  many  baiajle. 
That  never  Sarraran,  Bano)  fiiyle, 
Ne  mi^t  thy  stroke  withatond. 
Go!  let  never  no  Faynlm 
Into  batayle  bear  him. 

After  the  death  of  Eoland ! 
O  sword  of  great  powere, 
In  this  world  nia  nought  thy  peer, 

Of  no  metal  y-wronght ; 
All  Spain  and  Galice 
Through  ^i&ce  of  God  and  thee,  y-wis. 

To  ChrtsteBdom  ben  brought. 

Thon  art  good  withouten  blsiae ; 

In  thee  is  graven  the  holy  name 

That  all  things  made  of  nought ! " 

After  these  words  he  rose,  and,  exerting  his  whole  force, 

struck  the  sword  against  a  rock  in  hopes  of  breaking  it :  but 

Durindale  sunk  de^  into  the  soUd  stone ;  and  when  he  had 

with  some  difficulty  drawn  it  out.  he  found  the  edge  aninjured. 

The  dying  hero  now  blew  his  ivory  horn,  in  hopes  of  dmw- 

ing  round  tmn  some  fiiends,  if  any  such  had  escaped  &om  the 

battle,  to  whom  be  might  consign  his  sword,  and  who  might 

join  with  hiro  in  prayer  during  hia  last  moments.     No  one 

appeared.     lie  made  a  second  effort,  and  with  such  violence 

that  he  burst  the  horn,  and  at  the  same  time  so  distended  all 

his  veins  that  his  wounds  began  to  bleed  most  abundantly, 

and  soon  reduced  him  almost  to  extremity.     He  sound  of  this 

blast  was  distinclly  heard  in  the  army  of  Charlemagne,  who 

wished  to  retum  in  search  of  his  nephew,  but  was  persuaded 

by  Ganelon,  that  fioland  could  be  in  so  danger,  but  was  most 

Cbably  amusing  himself  by  hunting  in  the  forest.  It 
light,  however,  to  Roland,  two  of  his  companions,  Sir 
Baldwin  and  Sir  Terry,  who  having  escaped  the  general 
slau^ter  had  been  hitherto  wandering  through  the  forest,  and 
whom  he  sent  in  search  of  some  water,  which  however  they 
were  unable  to  find.  In  the  mean  time  a  Saracen,  coming  by 
chance  to  the  spot  where  the  hero  lay,  endeavoured  to  carry 
off  Durindale;  out  Roland,  suddenly  starting  up,  wrenched 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


37S  £AKt.T    KNQLI&B    ItWIXICAl,    KOIUnCBS. 

the  Bword  from  his  hand.  kiBed  bia  wiA  one  Uow,  and 
binted  with  the  esertion :  so  thiA  Sir  BaUwm,  finding  him 
i^puCBtlj  lifelem,  Uid  him  with  great  cioe  mhms  his  hone, 
took  ewe  of  his  Bvatd  and  faan,  and  coMhKled  him  to  an 
adjmni&g  Tullej,  nhent  tbe  hvo  leeonrin^  Iih  senses  had 
time  to  make  a  very  lon^  P**?"  be£n  he  e^wred;  irhen  his 
Bovd  was  immediately  r^ritA  vf  to  hemsn  by  a  trttop  trf' 

Aidihiahop  Tnrpn  waK,  at  this  noncid,  Bsymg  maae  fiv 
the  aools  <tf  the  dwi,  tai  distinctly  be«d  the  songs  of  these 
angela.  who  were,  bowerer.  too  dtnnl  to  he  lean :  bat  at  tite 
same  time  be  discomcd  aad  inttiiogated  a  tn»p  nf  blac^ 
fiends,  who  w«xe  flying  to  hdl  with  Ibe  mm)  of  King  Maisire, 
and  who  reported  to  him  the  death  of  Bnlnnd,  whidi  he 
instantly  notified  to  Cbuhmmm. 

The  good  kii^  inalaBtly  art  off  tuBiads  RoacesraDes,  and 
being  met  by  ^  Baldwin,  w^  eonfirmcd  the  depi»ition  at 
the  derils.  was  casdKted  by  him  to  the  bgdy  c^  Boiand, 
onr  which  be  lauumd  two  or  Iteee  tbaes,  and  vtteied  many 
kwMd  hot  tedioaa  iMMntafinni '  He  tin  prepaicd  Iv 
~"t— — :  and.  hassg  fint  pniy«d  to  Heavea  tiiaC  the  am 
iv^hl  be  stDfi|wd  &e  bKv  aa  it  bad  fiauun  beau  fiv  rmran. 
(ft  tnwKt  wludi  was  icad3y  gianlad  to  iim,)  bd  ht>  aiwr 
i«aiMt  SwamM.  whenr  Bali^Bd  had  fcwd  a  letntt.  In 
tbia  battle.  Sir  Tiir|M  .*i^'-y.;.h»i  biaaelf  bv  HKir  Mita  •£ 
extrMcdaaoy  nkMr.  ^  did  ab  Sir  O^mC  Sir  TliilMwl 
Charbvi^ae,  aad  Otwi  of  whon  w»  hne  kap  loat  ^«. 
bat  wW  IS  now  btoa^t  fiarward  ftr  the  [laiiiiiii   et  lilfw|. 


iftri  ^biibf^iiliii  iilBimil  »i  lla 

whm&irTc 

tka  deacrwtan'  of  dw  I'l 

chad:g«  IB  ein^  c(md«t 


tkas  Kfea^  the  death  af  his 

Clndp  took  bk  kai^iA*. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


With  Bwidie  grant  dcjomr; 
RokadyB  body  he  let  di^tt, 
'Wltli  m  jrIi  and  bahn  anoniigfat. 

With  swithe  good  odour. 
Both  Rdsad  and  Oliver, 
And  everjch.  of  the  duanper 
Wkfa  balm  weren  y-di^t ; 
Of  some,  withouten  &il. 
Men  didden  out  the  entrayle. 

And  in  lead  layd  hem  ari^t ; 
And  tho  that  weren  noaeht  bo. 
Full  well  m  salt  men  did  hem  do, 
To  be  sweet  botfi  day  and  night. 
I  iholl  condude  the  extract  firom  about  eleven  hundred  very 
insipid  Unee  in  the  words  of  the  author: 

Here  endeth  Otuel,  Roland,  and  Olyrere, 
And  of  the  twelve  duwypere, 

That  dieden  in  the  batayle  of  BuBcyvalc : 
Jesu  lord,  heaven  king. 
To  hie  bliss  hem  and  us  both  bring. 
To  liven  wiUioulen  bale ! 


SIB  FBRUMBRAS. 


Ilie  fbUowing  rovBue,  I  bcliere^  ma  bctct  piiated.  &  MS.  eop;  of 
It  Gxiited  in  the  Wnarj  of  the  late  Dr.  Firmer,'  lud  ■  transcript  from 
tbil  oopf  ■  nude  bj  the  late  Mr.  SteCTrns.  wb  presented  bf  ^'tti  to  mf 
(rieod  Mr.  Doooe,  who  khidlj  peimitled  me  to  re-tmncribe  it.  It  is 
'  '  'e  French,  Bad  cortaini  33B6  Jinei.     ~ 


a  copj  K 


BihI. 


R^.  15  E.  <ri.  Helton,  in  hii  poos  of  Ware  the  Hawke,  mendaog  it  br 
the  name  of  Syr  Pherumbrai ;  and  BBrbei,  in  his  poem  of  The  Brace, 
B.  iiL  T.  437,  meutiona  The  Romanes  of  vorthi  Fvambisae,  the  adien- 
txies  of  which  are  related  by  Bruce  to  hii  followers. 

It  maf  probalilf  oocnr  to  tlie  reader  tliat  this  itory  ooght  to  haie  pre- 
ceded tiuae  of  FemgB*  and  Otadi  heewa  it  ii  «h— ..^ ,  |ftg  H^ifff 
<MM»lg«nirARol>nAaq!l!hUqoapiniMB.IaJjle„gj«fQ^ 
3|ft*^tU<:a>^'f™i  lo  ^^JjJwiiHt  fytf '*■'■'' ■""^  '"  ">»— «tr  1"* 

j!iflKMja#B.toBa.3b«!«C38""'J'-'w''*'WB»  titBR,^ 

r  Hum,  when  rami 
idis  tba  most  i«l 
p.  161. 

j„.„^L,Coo^|i 


Um,  wliera  ramancea 
m  tJuivhC  of  little  Etrnteqiianefc;  andis  tba  most  iMtoaal 
SeeSibliotb«a  Heberinu,  part  li.  p.  161. 


380  x^mi-T  EFGUBB  MxtaicAi.  soiuxces. 

wiolta[anm^^tiMtm  iif  iriliiwi  i»  to  pim  Omb  acearibs  ta 
lb  «4cr  B  wkMh  tk;  vcn  wnttcB,  Ihow  fieboM  «Uch  «w>  tiHiiirf 
IB  lb  hM>  itf  Tta^'i  CkvDick  inBiil  Id  bre  ■  bat  tMm  to  ptoi^- 
In^cd,  rt^nv  B^  be  tte  data!  id  tte  PiaA  VfanbfM,'  I  Ikiak  it 
«hU  aol  be  fikealt  to  pran  frcm  Btcnd  endnwe.  Hut  tte  pmt 
. ^ .1 i-.A„.. ,^,t^tj~A^y^.^^^ 

fSTTDSTB^  contBaed  in  Hm  AwUdcd  MS.,  canaot  be  htor 
tk*  1330,  dntf  wbicb  taac  tbtf  MS.  wa  "^i-w.J 


Asitil 

And  Smaiea  oibookB  til  aatiqajtt. 
At  Snnt  DenjK  Abbey  in  Fnonee, 
71i»e  ms  dvonides  lemembrede  be, 
it  v3]  be  femtd  tint  a  '"'|T*''T  fBilf"i  """"^  I-**™"*  aar^ 
mgn  of  Babylon,  who  pocaesaed  fbe  renowned  city  of  Agn- 
mwr  OD  tbe  rira  Fla^ote,  was  a  temble   MOOTge  to  tbe 
Cluistians,  wbcan  be  drore  out  of  tbe  Hofy  Laud.     Twdrc 
kings  and  fourteen  amirab  foo^  under  bis  bannen ;  jet  his 
coaqnests,  Mtd  particolarty  tbe  eaptnre  of  Same,  die  farmer 
nustreas  cif  tbe  wnrld.  mart  be  atttibated  nOher  to  tbe  nns  a 
the  Cbnstitns  than  to  the  number  or  xahie  cf  his  brees. 
It  befeO,  between  Manji  and  May, 

When  kind  eora«*  faegimieth  to  i»d^ 
When  frith  and  fiidde  wuen  gay. 

And  ercry  w^it  desieth  ber  like : 
When  toTCTB  sl^en  with  open  ejv,      ; 

As  n^Jitin^nles  on  greene  tree. 
And  iote  deaoe  tbnt  tbey  eoMd  fly. 

That  they  mi^iten  with  dieiT  kne  be; 
Tltis  WDc^  Rowdan,  in  this  feason, 

SIk^  hnn  to  iTeeae  wood  to  goon. 
To  duce  the  boar,  or  t^  misan.* 

Tbe  wolt  or  the  bear,  or  the  bawson.* 
He  rode  tho  vpoa  a  fcrest  stnxtde, 

With  great  root  and  royahe, 
Tbe  biiest  that  was  in  all  that  Innde. 

With  alaontes,*  lyineri5.T  and  raccfaes*  free. 
■  TTnabna  ia  Mcetioaitd  n  CuIib-*  Ljf  orOBrlci  Ik  Gnte,  I4M, 
•  iKmrUaa  gnoate.  whiek  m  naqarBbnl  hj  Otjirr,  ind  K  tke 
lM*e  b^tt^Kd,  Bbd  ««  after  ■  Byst  b>  btoi."         *  In  lb  tnmb  m- 
^m»  bi  it.  I  bdn«.  ahnn  oBcd  "-'-nii 

'K-^BT.  -"  -  -     . 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


SIB  rxsmiBKAB.  38! 

Being  ftt  length  tired  of  hustiiig,  he  sat  down  under  a  tree 
on  an  eminence  wluoh  commanded  an  extensiTe  view  of  the 
■eft,  and,  perceiving  a  ship  at  a  eonoll  distsnce  from  the  shore, 
ient  an  attendant  to  hail  the  tcsscI.  and  to  inquire  for  neira- 
The  officer  soon  returned,  attended  by  the  ship's  interpreter, 
who,  addressing  the  soudan,  ioibrniea  him  fh&t  their  caiso 
was  of  immense  Talue,  r(>r'"ff*''"g  1^  ""''  ^^"i  '^cffry,  nil, 
brass,  pearls,  and  preciooa  stonei,  frsightfl^  nt '^^i^Ky^p^l  g^d 
intended  as'a  present  ior  liis  majesty  :  but  that,  having  been 
driven  by  stress  of  weather  to  Kome.  they  had  been  robbed  of 
the  best  part  of  this  trppmirft  hy  |)|p  R^iiny* ;  and  humbly 
hegged  leave  to  sohcit  that  he  would  dcnomice  his  royal  ven-  j 
geance  against  the  authors  of  this  insult. 

Laban,  highly  incensed,  mode  a  tow  to  Mohound  and  to 
Apolyn,  that  he  would  without  loss  of  time  exterminate  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  guilty  city ;  and  sent  pressing  orders  to  ' 
all  his  tribatory  kings  and  amirats  to  attend  Viim  on  an  ap- 
pointed day  with  the  whole  forces.  Seven  hundred  sail  i^ 
vessels  were  assembled  to  convey  the  army,  and  a  large  ship 
was  fitted  np  for  the  purpose  "^f  Ty'ig  th"  fl"vrJiiTii  tag^t*"" 
»MiJu3-afllX-E*aawJJWi,Kiog,of  Alciandria,  and  his  dsHghter 

Two  masters  were  in  the  dromotuid. 

Two  goddes  on  hi|^  ratten  there 
In  the  master-top,  with  maces  round. 
To  manace  with  the  Christian  lere.' 
The  sails  were  of  red  sendele," 

Embrowdered  vrith  rich  array ; 

With  beasts  and  birds,  every  dele,* 

That  was  right  cuiious  and  g^. 

The  fleet  having  a  proq»erou8  passage,  Laban  caneed  his 

army  to  be  disem&rked  near  the  mou£  of  the  l^ber ;  and, 

Iptuling  them  towards  Rome,  laid  waste  the  whole  country  o 


and  they,  instead  of  su^;esting  any,  advised  that  mesaengeis 
^ould  be  Bent  to  Charlemyne^  jmplpriyig  l^jp  *;J7nplj  sssist- 
ancej^huf  Borne  sdll  ooutained  one  brave  man,  named  Sa- 
Mrys,  who  persuaded  them  to  delay  this  timid  measure,  and 
to  make,  in  the  mean  time,  such  exertions  as  were  in  their 
power.  Inspiring  the  Boman  soldiers  with  a  seal  similar  to 
*  W^rewitli  to  —nana  Ih*  OaWlt  itootrin*.  ■  f  or  MuUf ,  hUe.  ■FwC 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


Ui  KAKLT  Kxeu^  MwrmicMs.  xoxaxceb. 

U»  awt.  W,  after  [KvridiBg  te  the  <kJa«e  of  Ab  wall^ 
<faecttd»»wBy»ffiMttbgM^y: 

ne  EtBor^  was  stnm^.  cndani^  '■■<; 
Tite  BoBMS  bdde  there  dte  fidd; 
Tbr  Smasnt  they  slew  ammig. 

Ten  iLuMtmd  umI  ax),  wiih  jfKir  and  JmU. 
He  tbea  nucated  in  tiine,  ^^  faani^  MiflUed  tittle  1am, 
was  Nuaied  in  Bone  aa  a  tatetarr  deitv.     In  tbe  a 
Ldfcifcw.rf  B>1^  'J 


^il.c-.'t^.uy :  and  with  ?od>  iwwtw  ifci  he 


ItalnnTirEiK.  fcr  the  bk  of  th^  Madas  aitd  of  thp  atwy : 
bnl  tb«  »>Qdaa  happened  to  he  oat  of  haiiwi  ba^  tfe  laia 
vhiehhe  had  jna  ^wawd.  and  odend  thevv^ias  to  be 
dain:  m>  liot.  fan  oar  anihor.  ihi  j  ill  IwiaiiM  ■ailjii.  aaiT 
tbovof  WTTV  thrr  ali  tuli  fun.^ 

If  chKthr.  nviicd  ahoott  to  rxccK.  wis  at  Ant  !■■«  Ae 
distiBEiirsaiBK  qK^iT  >:£  the  Itahan  ladick.  it  don  not  iffaar 
that  hnaaLJcv  wn$  the  ftraonte  Tiitar  of  their  uunqueiw ;  b 
d«  Mme  Lafcii«r.  hnvi^s  tebm  li^  oripstanitr  of  d^mn^ 
nc  ibf  jKiDnes  Fkicipu  far  hii  i  " 


^.  a~-.:  "wi^irni^caas^toxhefikM  ■.'«'hKrir:«M.  Tbe  «m3an 
Tfotdir  ».-t  k!3w  ;k  h:zhe!t  lewaid  iw  mark  a  snritc ;  and 
FWr-lpas  bi-niNf.  tWiwcs  nx  al  a3  enannncd  of  the  kh^  of 
Buii*<,  rf-ASJT  acmfd  to  asMK  Ub  wh^  he  sbooU  hare 
ft:u::u>d  cwiW  K«>ii3«B&.  Bbc  in  thr  bc^  ti«e  Lah^  ^i- 
j.'sanl  hia  i^  bbcA  eaMV  luk  td  laaiii'  "  ii.  wiifa  thirty 
.  t^KHaned  ry-o.  the  tier  of  IfiMi  :  ^tA  Utahn^ittMtat  heai- 
ci:!^-c  ss^KR.vk  «A  dwwte  the  ta^  H^adnatwd;  diMO- 
nnd  with  aamie  jwfaiwjhii  a  wx^  JlP^Jl^ufish  was  an 
■IWttli'  ti>  !sif  i=.>.::ideil  i^^aek :  la:^  urtwed  tat  braba  W 

draw   wc>r   ^xsMiiat  Sm  — i'li    &e  di&wttr:   and 

mnencd.  tAcr  n' 
ttf  the  eotKiKSif. 

wi^<ui  ":^x''^'*f  ' 
j^«-iv^i=;j:Q;.^»iraEKd  ait  Ids  (odf  &Kn 


uL,  Cookie 


inreitliHt' wluek  nug^tanflwer  his  pnrpoaes.     UabonluuaUy 

repreaeattd  to  lam,  diat  if  the  ditidi  were  filled  witli  E '- 

bia  mi»JMtf'»  trcM^  tnigtit  eaeily  pews  over  it ;  And  the  u 
gftffl_cominending.in,  terma  of  raptttrouB  admirution  "Qicuige- 
Spt^.^^^fugUtiBri  gave  ordare  for  this  necessary  measure; 
amd  directed  that  the  ci^  ebould,  on  tbe  ftdlowiug  day,  bo 
assaulted  from  all  guartets. 

But  tlie  bnve  Safauyi  was  itill  witlun  tlie  Trails:  the 
Saracens,  after  a  long  emilict,  were  icpulsed  with  consider' 
able  loss;  and  the  aoodan  becowe  almost  mad  with  vexation 
at  tiiis  second  diaappouttsHut.  LukaleTe,  however,  by  the 
assistance  cJ  a  spy,  was  now  provided  with  a  stntagem  which 
succeeded.  He  woe  tdid  that  SohoryB  would,  on  the  following 
day,  attempt  a  second  sally ;  and  Uttt,  by  causing  a  banner 
to  be  made  exactly  siniJbr  to  that  of  the  fiomans,  he  mi^t 
easily  gain  admittance  within  the  gates.  Sabaryz,  returning 
htaa  bis  expedition,  discovaed  too  late  the  oil^oe  of  the 
eocmj,  and  m  vain  endeaToured  to  recover  the  tow^  of  wludi 
tfaey  had  obtaiiied  poesGaaion. 

i !     By  then  be  fcmnd  tiie  gate  skatte, 

', ,         With  Sairazins  that  had  it  won; 

Y     Aad  Estagot  with  him  he  mette. 

With  boor's  head,  black  and  ^m. 

For  as  a  boor  a  head  he  had. 

And  a  great  naoe  stn»>g  as  steel; 
He  imwtir  Sobaryx  as  he  w^re  mad, 

11>at  dead  to  ground  he  felL 
This  EstngDt  of  Ethiope, 

He  wa*  a  king  of  great  strength; 
Thexe  was  none  such  in  Europe, 

So  strong  and  so  lo^  in  lei^(th. 
I  trow  he  were  a  devil's  son. 

Of  Belsabubbis  line. 
For  ever  he  was  thereto  y-wone' 
To  do  Cbristen  men  great  pine. 
After  the  death  c^  Sabaryc,  the  pape  again  somBODAd  his 
council,  and  all  now  concurred  in  the  necessity  of  dispaUUng 
an  embas^  to  impfave  the  aaaiatanee  of  Choiiemagne.     On 
the  following  day  Ue  Sancena  again  tiied  a  general  assault; 
the  fleet  was  brought  ap  to  the  Tyber,  with  their  "  boots 
the  Bast,"  br  the  parpooe,  as  it  should  seem,  of 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


384  Z1.BI.T  XKOLISH   HXTttlCiX  KOKAHOES. 

ajving  a  more  elevated  situation  to  the  aaBailajits;  and  the 
miHtaiy  engines,  under  the  direction  of  Sir  Mabon,  were 
worked  with  such  BUCcesB,  that  a  "bastile,"  whu:^  fbimed  a 
principal  protection  to  the  walls,  was  laid  in  ruins. 
Tho  the  great  glutton,  Estragot, 
With  his  miehty  nutce  sware ; 
On  the  gates  of  Rome  he  smot. 

And  brake  them  all  on  three  there. 
In  he  entered  at  die  gate. 

The  porte-cnllis  they  let  down  fell; 
He  weened  he  had  come  too  late. 

It  amot  him  through  heart,  liver  and  gall. 
He  lay  cryand  at  the  ground 

Like  a  devil  of  hell;  il 

Thorough  the  city  went  the  sound,  1 

So  loud  then  gan  he  yell.  ' 

This  fortunate  event  inspired  the  beeieeed  with  fresh  hopes. 
Hiough  frequently  gammoned  to  surrenaer,  th^  persisted  in 
defetmit^  the  dty;  and  at  &e  close  of  day  had  tne  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  the  enemy  mice  more  compelled  to  retire  with 
oonmdnable  loss. 

The  pope  now  formed  a  most  desperate  project  Conceiv- 
ing that  the  Saracens,  after  the  death  of  Sabaryz,  would  feel 
pmectly  secure  from  any  ftirther  enterprises  on  the  part  of 
die  besieged,  he  proposed  to  mareh  out  at  the  head  of  twenty 
thousand  men,  leaving  ten  thousand  for,  the  EU»<d  uf  thi,  ttVy,  ij 
and  to  attack  the  enemy  in  their  cam.pl!  Ei  fact,  the  scheme  7 
was  well  concerted,  and  the  surprise  would  have  succeded,  but 
for  the  vigilance  of  Sii  yenimbras.  who  going  his  rounds 
about  an  hour  before  day-break,  discovered  the  mareh  of  the 
Bomans,  sounded  the  atann,  and  in  the  mean  time  made  bead 
agunst  the  assailants.  The  attack,  however,  was  wdl  sup- 
ported; Sir  Biyer  of  Apulia,  and  Sir  Hubert,  and  Sir 
Oyndarde,  three  knights  in  the  Roman  anny,  seemed  to  have 
inherited  the  skill  and  courage  of  Sabarys,  and  destroyed 
—eat  numbers  of  the  Saracens ;  but  the  superiority  trf  Fenun- 
0  at  length  became  conspicuous.  j  \ 

Tho  came  the  pope,  with  rich  array, 

His  bannere  tofore  him  went; 
FenunbxBs  then  gan  to  assay 
If  be  might  that  prey  entente;* 
<  Attid^  attcater,  EV. 


J  L,  Google 


ttasai 


BIS  FZBrHBKU.  38S 

Supposing  m  his  thougbt 

TTiere  was  the  sovereign. 
He  spared  him  therefore  nought, 

Bnt  bare  him  down  there  in  the  plain. 

Anon  he  sterte  on  him  nllane, 

His  veatayle  for  to  unlace; 

And  saw  his  crown  new  shane,! 

And  shamed  then  he  was. 

"Fie  priest,  God  give  thee  sorrow! 

What  doest  thou,  armed  in  the  field,  i-.,  ,  „  , 

That  shouldest  say  thy  matins  on  morrow?       '  ,■  ■ 

What  doest  thou  M-ith  spear  and  shield? 
I  hoped  thou  hadflt  been  an  emperour, 

Or  a  chieftain  of  tliis  host  here ; 
Or  some  worthy  conquerour: 

Go  homoj  and  keep.  ?jiy,juiere ! ' 
Shame  it  were  to  me,  certain,  , 

To  slay  thee  in  this  hatayle. 
Therefore  turn  thee  home  again!" 

The  pope  was  glad  thereof  sauns  fiiile,  <J 
He  went  home  to  Rome  that  night. 
With  five  thousand  and  no  more ; 
Fifteen  thousand  left  in  the  field  aplight. 
Foil  great  sorrow  was  therefore. 
This  disastroua  event  mi^ht  have  ultimately  led  to  the 
surrender  of  Rome,  but  its  immediate  capture  was  the  effect 
of  treason.     Ispr«s,  a  man  who  possessed  by  inheritance  the 
command  of  the  principal  gate,  repaired  to  Laban,  and  ofiered 
to  betray  his  charge  on  certtiin  conditions,  which  were  readily 
promised:  but  Fermnbraa.  w^ao  was  ordered  to  rcc^^;j|Yp..pos-  J/.. 
aeeeion  of  the galfi,  caused  tM',taiitc(i:.'^,)ieti3.fo ^ sim^  off 
Jjy  .the  Dort-eidiis,  and  to  be  carried  on  the  point  of  a  spear 
jBe4(£C^  troops,  while  he  procecJe J  to  t!ic^ag.e  of  tha aily. 
Fcrumbras  to  St.  I'etef  B  went, 
i  And  all  the  relics  he  seised  anon; 

J  Hie  cross,  the  crown,  the  nayles  bent, 

<^  ^        i  He  tolte  them  with  him  everych  one. 

I  He  did  despoyl  all  the  dth 

'  Both  of  tresor  and  of  gold ;  '"^ 

And,  after  that,  brent  he  "  T 

All  that  ever  mign^ie  told. 
'  Nevdj  ihnen.  '  Qoira.  *  Ccrtunl;. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


386  E&XLT   ENQLIffiB  IfXTBICAI.  X01U.irCEa. 

Tbns  was  completed  the  tnnmpli  of  the  Hahoinetims.  The 
bootf  found  in  Rome  was  sent  by  lAban  to  Aigremor,  where 
be  spent  three  months  in  constant  festivities.  The  altan  of 
his  false  gods  smoked  with  ccnselcss  ctoads  of  franluocense, 
and  the  pleasures  of  Ihe  table  were  unremitted. 
They  blew  homyg  of  Wsss; 

JTiicy  drooke  bcastys'  blood; 
Milk  and  honey  there  was 
Hut  was  royale  and  good. 
I    ;        Serpents  in  oil  wen;  fried 

1  To  eeire  the  soudau  withal; 

I  I  "  Antrarian!  Antrarian!''  they  cried, 
ITiat  signi£eth  "  Joye  gcnerale." 
'Whilst  the  soudan  was  thus  feastinff  on  fned^^jfs,  the 
ounpagna  of  Rome  exhibited  to  the  Christiaa  army,  which 
was  advancing  to  its  relief,  the  most  horrid  scene  of  demla-  .  \/ 
tion.  The  messengers  had  reached  fTinrlrmny""  '"  snfntiri 
and  that  monarch  bad  taken  measnres  to  ciulcct  his  army  with 
the  utmost  gpeed ;  but  as  his  preparations  required  some  dme, 
and  the  distress  of  the  Komans  was  pressing,  he  sent  off  Sir 
Otiy,  duke  of  Burgundy,  at  the  head  of  such  troops  as  were  in 
readiness,  with  orders  to  keep  the  enemy  in  check  till  his 
airival.  Sir  Ouy  immediately  hastened  into  Italy;  but  the 
Saracens  were  already  disembarked ;  the  rains  of  the  city  were 
Btill  smoking;  the  neighbouring  country,  exhausted  fay  the 
enemy,  afibrded  no  means  of  subsistence;  and  he  found  it 
necessary  to  halt  at  some  distance,  and  to  wait  the  approach 
of  the  royal  aimy.  This  series  of  bad  news  greatly  exaBpe- 
perated  Charles,  who  swore  to  be  revenged  on  Labem,  and  to 
put  him  to  death,  unless  he  should  consent  to  restore  the 
reliqucs  and  to  abjure  his  idolatry;  after  which,  feehng  him-'i  y 
self,  OS  people  usually  do  on  such  occasions,  somewhat  re-  1/  " 
freshed  by  his  oath,  he  b^an  to  take  widi  more  coolness  the 
steps  which  were  necessary  for  its  accomplishment.  He  pro- 
vided a  fleet,  embarked  bis  army,  landed  on  the  banks  of 
the  river  Gaze,  about  thirty  miles  from  A^remot,  and  began 
to  pillage  the  country  for  the  purpose  of  notifying  his  safe 
arrival. 

Laban,  fflwajsjirrogant.  and  rendered  still  more  so  by  his 
late  success, jj^  ncifi;cl]f..Aatj)IU{Jljed.. at  the  JSGfiUIBI^on  of 
CharlenMpne ;  and  having  convoked  his  barons,  he  thus  ad- 
<uesseu  them ; 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


BIB  TEBTTVBKU.  387 

"  I  oltuge  ^ra,  spoB  yonr  legeaunoe,  ^ 

Thai  ve  hrinffTing  fe|f  g^i^tlan. 
y^        tbul  ckpeth  himself  king  of  Fnnoe,  ' 
Hither  to  my  paTillon. 
Keep  him  alive:  tbe  ntntaatt  ek,' 

The  twelve  peers  ^ach  one ;  ^ 

i  swear  by  goSfTHabaaal" 
Sir  Fennabras,  Sir  Lukafere,  and  the  oAex  Sanoen  bii^ts 
inunediataly  seiised  their  anas,  aud  hastened  to  a  akirmiih 
with  Rohutd,  Olivier,  andjthe  rest  of  Charlese  kni^ts.     The 
ntn'rmiali  liwamc  a  tremebdous  btttde,  in  which  the  Saraoeitt 
t      ,       were  so  severely  handled  that  FenunbiM  wm  obliged  to  con- 
»    —  BsiT  16  his  lather,  that  tSeir  gods,  "  what  devil  so  ever  tlmm 
ailed,"  had  not  bleas^  their  anus  wiUi  victory.     C3iarle8,  on 
the  other  hand,  being;  rather  OTQiid  of  the  feate  which  he  had 
^j       achieved  with  his  good  HworJJoj^^Be,  but  imwilUng  to  arro-  j 

gate  to  his  own  eJSrts  "tii^'tvhofesuCGess  of  the  day,  chose  to  ({•t'  -^  \ 
Bhare  it  only  witii  the  elder  knights  of  his  army,  whom  he  j^i"* 
«      praised  iti' terms  so  exclusive,. that  his  nephew,  tte  iuyjetuous 
'^''      Koliuid,__  conceived  himself  and  hie  brethren  in  wma  to  be 
Tinmtly  slighlcd,  and  eoon  took  aji  qpfortuiiity  of  expressiiig 
hSmspleiaKiire . 

T^e  author  now  presents  ns  with  a  prayra-  to  "the  red 
Mars  armipotent,"  who  is  invoked  either  by  lAbon,  or  by 
some  other  person,  to  succour  the  Mahometans  against  the 
Cbristiahs;  and  then  abruptly  proceeds  to  aeeert  the  neccs- 
aity,  or  at  least  the  propriety,  of  &lliag  in  love  during  the  ^ 
spring  of  the  year;  and  tJiese  digressiDnB  lead  him  to  describe 
the  nations,  which  are  quite  suffii^ently  aumeious,  from  which 
Laban  recruited  the  late  lones  in  his  army- 
All  these  people  was  gathered  to  Agronore ; 
Three  hundred  thousand  of  fiairasina  fell; 
Some  tdoo,  some  ycUow,  some  black  as  Uoor,  ^        i*^C* 
Some  horrible  aad  strange  as  devil  of  b^.  tjr^ 

-■-' "       ^^.J" 


A 


\ 


Ee  made  them  ilrinlr  gf  ttCT^rfyi'  blaad,    ,CfJ^ 
T!)f  i^ei,'~antel<ipc,  and  camalyon*. 

As  in  her  use  to  eager  Uieir  mood, 
"Wbrai  diey  in  war  la  batftyle  ^on. 

'BB»iiiiiiL  tfn- 
■  HeaiiiBg,  peobab^,  tfae  cuadiTWdtlia.    Tbe  Uiinil  of  ■  n 
Mild  go  a  TB17  litQB  yitj  tawardi  satUlyiqg  a  tliintj  Suacvn. 
2c2 


868  EABIT   KROtlSB  KETXICAX  SOKAKCES. 

lAban  addiCMcd  tht«  motley  tamj  m  a  gpeechintgidfid  to 
inercMe  the  ^mrfikt  tiUmsr  "'Tl""'"nFii  *T  **"*  i"^'°^^lIll^''^ 
nature  of  their  diet,  ordered  a  solemn  gBCrifice  to  his  gods, 
utd  then  airactetftenunbras  to  march  against  the  Christians. 
Femmlnrw  led  o«t  his  troops;  but  having  ordered  them  to 
halt  in  a  thi<^  wood,  advanced  with  only  t«n  followers  to  the 
camp  of  Charlemagne,  and,  demanding  a  parley,  oArcd  to 
fisht  singly  against  Roland,  Olivier,  Guy  of  Bui^undy,  Duke 
mymes,  O^er  le  Danoia,  and  Richard,  duke  of  Normandy. 
Charles  re|Uied,  with  proper  temper,  that  without  resorting  to 
his  best  knighta  he  coold  easily  find  a  champion  who  would, 
atagty,  be  adequate  to  a  combat  with  such  an  adversary:  he_ 
Iwwcver  aent  for  Roland,  and  ordered  him  to  accept  tEe" 
cnaDense, 

Rtdand  snewend,  with  wordes  bold. 

And  said,  "  Sire,  have  me  excused  1" 
He  said,  certainty  he  ne  wold; 
Hie  faatayle  utteriy  be  refused. 
"  The  hat  day  ye  praised  feate 

~  Tlie  old  knirida  c^  their. wgjlluvess ; 
Let  tKem  goni(»th;  I  have  no  haste; 
Hiey  may  go  shewen  their  prowess." 
'  -  *         For  ttttt  word  the  king  was  wrothe, 
'  i^SjidjSlPfite  him  on  the  mpulLim  hie'; 

Thfi  M*™*  °^^  ^f  ^  "oee  outgg^ ; 
''  Andsaid,  "Traitour!  thou  sbalt  abye!" 

"  Abje,"  quoth  Roland,  "wole  I  nought; 
And  tiaitour  was  I  never  none. 
By  that  lord,  that  me  dear  hath  bou^t!" 

And  brajde*  tut  Dniindale*  anon. 
HcwcJde  nave  smitten  the  king^cre, 

Ne  haddc  the  barons  mn  between : 
Ibe  king  withdnwe  him  for  (bar. 

And  pawed  home  as  it  might  beet  been. 
Btdand  thns  |Tatified  his  reeratment  at  the  expense  of  a. 
aeret*  nuatification;  tmice  he  thereby  [vecluded  himself  from 
aee^tin^  a  combat  which  would  have  affiirded  him  much 
aatiActMa:  and,  by  qnarrelling  with  his  uncle,  he  only  gave 
the  other  banos  the  tn>nble  of  bringing  about « leooneiliauoa, 
whidi  he  was  obliged  to  pnrehaset^hu  submission.  Olivier. 
vte  had  beeawoBsded  in  tfie  preceding  engagement,  and  was 
*  la  harts.  •  Dfsir.  ■  Tknuiwafkii  nrcwd. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


aiB  FZBUHBOAS. 


.'(I 


then  confined  to  hia  bed  suddenly  rose,  on  hearing  of  thia 
diepnte,  and,  hastening  to  the  king,  demanded  the  battle  wit^ 
such  cameBtnesa  that  Charles  was  forced  to  acquiesce.  He 
then  put  on  his  armour  ,inoun  ted.  his  horse,  and  rode  to  the 
sdjoining  forest,  at  the  skirts  of  which  he  found  FerumbniB, 
wno  buA  disnuBscd  hia  attendants,  and  was  sitting  on  the 
ground  under  a  tree,  to  a  branch  of  which  his  horse  was 
secured.     The  Christian  knight  coortcous^y  salntei!,  thp  ^"'- 

ing  big  posture,  coldly  demanded  jjliejjbaUeilggr'B.ncuBe;  and 
"being  tolaTftHtlT^iiti ""  GcncrJB^ ,  only  obwryed .  th^  ChoileB 
~~"""  i^fooTto  aeiid  "him  such__flri.8d_ver8?ry,__an.4.deBi»itbB 
to  return  and  tell  hinj  BO. 
Qg,"  quoth  Oiyver,  "  wilt  thou  plead? 
Take  thine  arms,  and  come  to  me; 
And  prove  that  thou  gayest  in  deed, 

For,  boast  thou  blowest,  as  thinketh  me."  fi*)^*' 

Ferumbras,  roused  by  the  stem  and  menacing  tone  of  these     s» 
words,  instantly  seized  his  helmet,  which  Olivier  courteously  jatt^**! 
assisted  him  to  lace;    after  which,  ihe  coinT>atanta.  jolitely ' 
Rowing  to  each  other,  vaulted  Into  their  saddles,  rushSTWe- 
Iher  at  fuU  speed,  shivered  their  lances,  and  then  drawmg 
their  swords  commenced  a  tremendous  combat,  of  which,  be- 
cause it  passed  without  witnesses,  the  author  has  given  a  very 
minute  description.     Olivier,  by  on  accidental  stroke,  cut  off 
two  bottles  of  balm  which  were  trussed  to  the  saddle  of  his 
antagonist,  and  having  Beiiied  them,  threw  them  into  the  river, 
to  the  great  indignation  of  the  Saracen,  who  represented  that 
fliey  contained  a  medicine  of  soverwgu  virtue,  and  that  such 
a  loss  was  absolutely  irreparable.     The  battle  therefore,  after 
tbia  new  injury,  continued  with  increased  obstinacy;  but  such 
was  the  skill  of  both,  that  after  a.  laborious  contest  of  somoj^^ 
hours,  during  which  neither  had  been  materially  hurt,  they       ■f 
stopped! Sy  mutual  conieut  to  rest  themselves  and  take  breatii.  * 

Hiis  pause  naturally  Introduced  a  parley;  for  the'  Saracen, 
convinced  by  the  blows  which  he  had  endured,  that  his  enemy 
must  be  one  of  the  twelve  peers,  earnestly  requested  him  to 
declare  big  real  name. 

Oljrver  answered  to  him  again; 

"  For  fenr  I  leave  it  not  uniold; 
My  name  is  Oiyver,  certain, 
^  ^  Cousin  to  Kmg  Charles  the  bold; 

D,j„..;jL,  Google 


KBTBICAI.   ROKAKCU. 


To  wboK  I  d«D  due  aend, 

Qnick  or  dead,  this  mioe  day, 
9f  ooiMpuflt  licre  iiL  this  fi^l*!, 

'    '       V  thee  to  Euue>  thjr  ky." 
awwtd  the  ii  " 

,  ^  hew,  t^tix^  by  OKTier.  Bothretvaedto  the  fight  inthraewcd 
'  ngoar:  i>tle>^.  hawenr,  the  sword  of  OUnerhsrii^fiHledl, 
In  mi  to  tha  stsed  ot  Femubna,  which  WM  tied  to  a  tree, 
and  ittMd  A&tA  award  which  waa  tu^^ig  from  the  saddle; 
batBLtanm^DiihiB  odvessaiy,  reeeivedaUDWon  the  ehooldex 
lAi^  fimed  him  to  beid  with  one  knee  to  the  pxmad. 
At  thia  moment  '"^*™r''"S  vhn  V^  j™T»alily  ycryfftoA  eyes. 
dJacoTerwrTbiim  from  the  caam  in  an  attitude  Which  ^lemed 
to  poHeud  hiB  aj^tmaching  defeat,  and  be^n  to  pray  with 
great  (errencT  that  Ub  aieh  uofrftew  mi^it  obtain  a  victory 
'      beaUhy  ?  "'  .        ,         . 


_.^  „  .  .1  heard,  and  an 

^  jht  hinv  tltfi  ""VyfrfL '  T*  tff"  i^'iiw' ;  aooa  after  which, 

timer  uin«d  at  Feramfana  a  blow  which  pierced  the  hanberk 
and  laid  apsa  a  part  of  his  aide,  producing  at  the  ome  time  a 
tnoat  TitileBt  effbsiaa  of  bload.  The  woimded  man  now  coti' 
feaaed  hjimwlf  Tanqoiahed,  ""l  implored  the  mErcy  oC  hia 
adveraaiy. 

**  lamsohsrt  I  aoay  tut  stcaide; 
I  put  me  aD  in  thy  grace: 
My  gocb  ben  &lae  Ire  water  and  load. 
^         1  imye  then  all,  here  in  this  place! 
„         BaytJzed  nog  wok  T  h«^." 

lie  then  requeated  (Hivier  b>  aceqit  his  borse  and  anna, 
to  cany  him,  if  peesiUe,  to  Charles ;  warning  bim  that  the 
Saracen  army,  which  lay  concealed  in  the  irood,  had  ordera 
to  advance  about  this  hoar  of  the  day,  and  mi^t,  if  a  nuHuent 
were  loot,  ent  oB  their  retreat. 

In  bet  this  fiiendfy  intimation  ramt-  too  late;  and  the 
oieniy  appmtdaed  so  fiist  that  Olivier  was  compelled  to  depo- 
nt  Iwt  ■mwdffd.^gtMelyte  nndcr  an  cJiTe-tree,  and  to  tnke  the 
beat  measures  mEin  pbUvt  lor  his  ovrn  seenrity.  In  the  mean 
time  the  French  army  was  in  motion;  and  Koland,  anxioiK  ^  \J  j 
for  the  fete  of  Olivier,  fiir  outatrippii^  all  the  test,  rushed  Uke 
%htning  into  the  ranks  of  the  Saracens.  But  while  he 
slaughtered  aH  within  his  teach,  his  horse  was  Jdlled  under 

'  ^^"St  £anrcn»i  rtmitr,  K. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


BIB  WXiVWOAS.  3BL 

him  by  the  airows  of  Qie  mtKe  dutant:  he  had,  ia  his  huU, 
neglected  to  take  witb  him  }ua  tznstj  Duiindale.  and  had  seized 
s  cemmiCKL  sword,  irincli.aaw  bidu  in  hia  hand;  bo  that  being 
on  foot  and  naanaed,  h»  wa»  at  length  bome  down  and  mada 
yjlfp"^  by  a  crowd  rf  ■Miilmiln  Qliyier  beheld,  and  at- 
toOHltM  to  pwrcnt  tIua^^^jri^lffl"^g;  but  his  '  hnnui"~aTiin  liguig 
MUed  by  the  atiowera  of  uartBwluchfeU.jjjjflftJilt^,  ];e  whu  in 
&  aunilar  manh'^'oreipowere^nubJe.  ff>0ij^^,ja^  Aooducted, 
tojjctfCTwiffi  Sr^d,  to  the  ^rocious  Ltd^re.  Charlemagne 
mioB  e^feSoTtTbr  the  lescue  oflua  nephews:  and  the 
anwing  was  fhr  adranced  whao,  after  an  unaT&iling  pmwiit, 
in  which  the  enemy  suSbred  Beverely,  he  ctmaeuted  to  give 
orders  ftir  tbe  retraat.  In  returning  to  the  camp,  however, 
.  he  had  the  good  fiHtime  to  meet  the  wounded  Ferumbnis, 
whom  he  prepared,  in  die  first  inatanae,  to  pot  to  death,  in 
revenge  for  the  captivity  of  hia  relatione;  Jtnt  being  moved 
by  haa  piety  and  contiitioQ,  and  Feflectii|ff  mi  the  advwtlngicfi 
TwBffi^^t  accnu  ia  Chnatianit^  from  the  conre'tiiciti  of  auoh 
as  ungortant  peraont^,  be  eoadocted  liim  to  his  tent,  ctrased 
'Lini'to  Ee  ^tended  by  hia  own  Burgeons,  and,  after  his  reoo. 
Tflry.  directed  Tnrpia  to  instxuet  ud  baptize  him  by  the  name 
of  Flopffim.  He  coatJaoad,  however,  diuing  the  whole  of  his 
military  lue  to  be  Imown  by  his  (nginal  ajqiellation,  and  only 
amnmed  the  latter  during  his  declining  years,  which  ware 
paeaed  in  acts  of  holineaH  and  contrition. 

Itoland  and  Olivier  being  conducted  to  laban  by  Lnkafere, 
were  questioned  by  him  rrapeedng  their  names  and  rank, 
which  they  instant^  avowed;  and  the  roudan,  with  as  little 

'     hesitation,  vowed  a.  vow  to  Mahomet  that  tbey  shonld  both  be 
executed  the  next  morning,  a.  little  before  dituier.     But  being 
as  ready  to  break  hia  vows  as  to  make  thero .  ryhl;v.  he  deter- 
mined, by  the  advice  of  his  daughter  Floiipasl^t  the  said 
.    knights  should  be  detained  as  hostage^  lor  his  son  Ferumbnis; 

^  but  that  they  sboidd  he  thrown,  into  a  deep  dungeon,  and  de- 
barred from  all  food  until  the  return  of  Chariemagne's  pri- 
soner. It  may  be  neeessffy  to  ofaaerve,  that  the  walls  of 
Lahan's  palace  were  input  washed  by  the  sea;  JbltJQftm 
J^ies^  WaUs  was  a  garden^  and  ^'"'W^^'  ibip  gaHin  iTf"'  the 
.cells  of  the  dungeon,  which,  tbej^fore,  at  high  tides  were 
nearljr  filled  wit!^_i^^er.  Such  was,  daring  six  days,  the 
'lodging  of  our  t^a^abugbts,  who  had  certainly  some  reason 
to  oomidain,  and  lAa  dwl.  caanlain  so  loudly  that  they  at 
length  atbacted  the  attention,  of  Floripai!     Vhe  princess  who, 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


S93  Sftmi.T  BITGLISH  HKTKICAX  SOKAKCKS. 

kad  lepured  to  her  gtriea,  "  to  gidier  flowoB  in  monung 
eoU."  being  mored  to  CMnpMnoa  hj  tlie  grcMns  (tf  the  [ni- 
BODCTS,  Tequested  her  govemeoB  to  unst  her  in  idferii^  their 
wants,  bat  the  old  iritch,  vbaae  name  was  Marigoande. 
ntterty  refbsed  to  h^  hex  in  matAi  an  act  of  dJaobelieDce. 
Floripas  made  no  foitber  "~*~"~~  bat  continBed  her  walk; 
and  T^Mirii^  to  a  window  in  a  pavilion  which  oreriooked  the 
m,  widckaJy  oDcd  to  ^^arjpppj^;  (n  r*<mf  llri  "*  tlK  por- 
poiaea.  who  were  sporting,,  bgMgBtIl_l>er.  Marigoonde  tlinwt 
«MVU  Iuritu3"  to  behold  the  sight;  and  her  fooi^  popiL 
makuig  a  Budden  efibrt,  piriied  hw  into  the  water,  where  d>e 
was  instantly  drowned.  -.. 

"Go  thoc,"  she  said;  "the  devil  ibee  ^eed! 
Hfcovnaddiah  tboaoeircTbewiy:'  . 

•*  Whoao  win  not  help  a  man  at  peed,  B  , 

I  AnerildeaAmatehedier'  ' 

Fkmpos  now  repaired  with  the  same  psopooal  to  &ita>- 
matte.  the  jailer,  whom  she  hi«d  to  find  moae  ■(-Tnpf°''''iBtf. 
or  DNre  cmnphring  than  ber  daenna ;  bat  she  was  nustaken. 
Kitomarte,  not  satisfied  with  refiuii^ber  request,  dneatened 
to  impart  it  to  the  soodan,  and  actn^^  set  out  to  execute  hk 
ptopoec;  t"t  tfM*  active  jRinceoB.  fiiDowing  doac  at  his  beeh, 
sriaed  the  tty-rteg  wWh  himg  fnm  Us  shoulder,  and  with  n 
v^orous  Mow  da^wd  out  his  bnins;  after  wfaidt. 
To  her  father  forth  she  goth. 

And  said.  "  Siie,  I  teU  ytta  here, 
I  saw  a  s^t  that  waa  me  loth. 

How  the  Use  jaikr  fed  your  prw 
And  how  the  corenant  made  wn, 
When  thtr  ^hoold  ddivned  be: 
Whnefiire.  I  slew  him  with  a  maee; 
Dver  bthra.  forgive  it  meT' 
**  Mv  dat^ter  ^enr.  tbat  art  so  tme. 
The  vrard  of  them  now  give  I  thee; 
Let  their  sonow  be  ever  new, 
TtQ  Fanmhtas  ddivcred  be." 
Sbe  DOW   proceeded  to   the    dnngeoo,  attended  bjr  two 
iBaidens,  with  wboee  assistance  she  lowaed  a  n^,  and  BO<^•    , 
ees^vviy  drew  out  the  two  prisonen.  whom  she  conrejred  to 
her  ovm  aportiamtB.  wbere  Ae  caused  than  to  be  batlKd. 
and  after  a  iJight  repast  1^  them  to  their  repose. 

ThoB  had  the^gcntieFlos^gs.  in  the  coorse  of  a  tew  hoars. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


«is  FEBnicBBAB.  893 

kicked  her  governess  out  of  window,  knocked  out  tbe  brains 
of  a  jailer,  and  cheated  her  &tlier.  for  the  purpose  t£  raTiug 
from  deatruction  two  of  his  most  inTeterate  enemies.  It  was 
an  eventful  day ;  and  scarcely  more  ao  at  the  court  of  Lahan 
than  at  that  of  Charlenuigne. 

This  good  king,  having  summoned  his  council,  declared  to 
them  bis  intention  of  sending  Guy  of  Burgundy,  as  his  am- 
bassador, to  the  soudon,  with  a  mess^e  importing  that,  "  if 
the  said  Boudan  did  not  immediately  restore  his  two  nephews, 
together  with  the  reliqnes  taken  at  Rome,  he  might  expect 
the  most  dreadiiil  consequences  from  Charles's  vei^eance; 
and  that  all  hia  gods  would  not  be  able  to  save  him  aam  de- 
struction." On  henring  this  strange  resolution.  Duke  Kavmeg 
j}f  Bavaria,  the  wisest  and  most  venen^le  of ,  tl^,  coi^nsellors, 
ventured  to  represent  that  such  a  message  addre8sed..tfl  such 
'a'miin  "would  expose  its  bearer  .  to  JBrtain.deatrwtiim,, .  "Jy 
(iodT*^  saiS'CEarlea,  "  Sir  Guy  shall  gp,  .^id,tboii-Bhalt.ihare 
"Mb  flKftgal*"'  TKs  i!i3ec3  was  not  quite  a  legitimate  argu- 
HeHV'Bht  it  was  an  answer  which  seemed  likely  to  preclude 
all  further  discussion ;  it  however  produced  a  very  difierent 
effect  from  tbat  which  the  king  expected.  Ogier  le  Danoia, 
B^  I'Ardennois,  Pulk  Baliante,  Le  Ronx,  Iron  of  Brabant, 
Baniard  of  Prussia,  Bryer  of  Bretagne,  and  even  Archbishop 
Turpin,  successively  declared  themselves  of  the  some  opinion 
with  Duke  Naymes,  and  remonstrated  against  the  abatirditr 
and  injustice  of  the  measure^  but  .Charlf-  gmwiny  intlTP  °"" 
.fflgre.angty,fflye  tfl-e^^kJH-to  tiira  the  jwnw  anaMar:  and 
^ving  dismissed  them  all  on  the  same  dnijgennia  atiand, 
seemed  to  thinlt  that  the  loss  of  his  twelve  peers  in  the  field 
was  well  compensated  by  their  absence  from  nis  councils. 

It  was  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  same  measure,  to 
which  Charles  resorted  in  direct  opposition  to  all  his  friends, 
was  at  the  same  time  adopted  by  Laban,  at  the  unanimous 
instance  of  his  wise  men;  and  that  twelve  Saracens  of  high 
rank  were  sent  to  demand  the  liberation  of  Ferumbras,  in 
terms  no  less  insulting  than  those  employed  in  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  French  ambassadors.  The  delegates  from  both 
sides  met  in  a  plain,  near  the  city  of  Msntrible;  diluted  each 
other;  and  mutually  communicated  their  respective  orders; 
after  which  the  Saracens  wished  to  proceed  on  their  journey, 
but  were  prevented  by  Sir  Guy,  who  defied  them  to  on  imme- 
diate trial  of  arms.  The  result  was  that  the  Mahometans 
WW  Bj)  ItjIIaH  ;  and  tbeir  heads  bcrog  cut  off,  were  separately 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


aM  EABLT  EirOLISH  KXISICU.  BOHAITCEB. 

]W*fc"i  vp,  and  rtarit^  to  AigiiemoT  by  the  French  kniglits  ia 
vomtpKij  wilk  tlttir  oredantMJs.  On  tiuir  amni  at  Idbans 
ftmx: 

Diw^^ty_Dttke  NayiMea  trf  Bbtctb 
To  tne  Mwdan  hie  mesMge  ti^ 
And  nid,  "'  God,  that  madie  hekven  ao  dear. 

He  Hire  Eli^  Cluries  ao  bold, 
Aad  eoofennd  IlBT>^n^  <>riA  all  hia  men 

Hut  OB  Uahonnd  bdieven,. 
And  give  titem  eril  endiiw;  Amen! 

TtM&oRow,  long  cse  it  be  even. 

He  crnimutpdeth  Ibee,  iqim  thy  life, 

Hianqiheira  ht«ne  to  him  to  send. 

And  the  idiqnes  of  Borne,  without  strife; 

Aad  elaa  gettest  tliou  eril  end." 

He  Qten  jaocacded  to  rdate  Aat  be  and  his  conqnnicma 

Jtod  hiPedlqt  Afciay-titoi  flwlnr«fd,.felkaBL^ho  profewed 

<y>hn  annt  ftm.  A;pjn|i..j|-  ^^h  ^  afnipy_ mp—i^  to  the  French 

ki^;  andthoiprodtMeddiebeadaasvoiicheiBfbrWveracity. 

"tafim,  in  a  gnat  lage,  answered,  that  not  having  vet  eaten 

I  aideieoth,  be  wcnd^  in  the  fint  instance,  fini^  hia  dinuet, 

/  bot  dot  he  would  then  order  their  heads  to  be  cat  off;  and 

thiB  reeolotian  be  confinned  hj  a  Bolemn  oath,  which  Floripaa 

inatmthr  penoaded  him   to   break,   by  reqiwsting   to   take 

dtarge  of  the  priaontaB,  till  a  general  council  of  hia  barons 

dimdd  haive  determined  on  the  best  node  ~c^  mnWing  theu 

ponidiment  ctatdnciTB  to  &e  release  of  bra  brother  Ferum.- 

/  bras,  .^to^nncess,  therefore,  caniedthem.lQ.her  apartment; 

'    introduce3~Sem~ fd  Sicir  Meads  Roland  and  Olivier;    and, 

I   MvuiK  desired  tbem  ta  poiat  out  Sir  Chi;  oi  Burgundy,  ior- 

lormed  theni  that, £roia  tbp  ^vvuzahle  export  itf  tiiii;  cbaract^, 

she  ^lad,  without  seeing  him,  being  long  enamoured  <d  that 

.^nlle  bught;  that  it  was  her  widi  to  ^uie  her  &lae  goda, 

'   to  embraee  Christiani^,  and  to  become  his  wile ;  that  with 

'   Ibis  view  she  had  alreadj  done  mncb,  and  was  prepared  bo  da 

move  for  their  benefit;  but  that,  if  slif^ted  by  the  object  of 

ha  pasaon,  she  was  prepared  to  ahuidon  them  all  to  her 

fiither's  vengeance. 

&r  Guy  was,  at  first,  very  mnidt  indi^Maed  towards  this 
haat^  contract;  bat  his  frieoda  having  pnqwrly  represented 
to  him  the  youth  and  beauty  of  FknipoB.  h^  imporbmt  ser- 
vioea,  and  Uieir  common  danger,  he  at  last  consented:  vlmi 
Honpas,  *»i"''g  in  hia  hand  a  stdden  aap 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


■IK  TEBtTMBaAS.  395 

Full  of  noble  mi^i^  wine. 

She  sud  to  him,  "  Hy  km,  s^  Jtnd; 
^T  hMrt.  mv  MTi  "T  ir~^  '•  *'■"—"    ^ 

Ani  kiaaad  lum  vitn  mot  word. 
And,  "  Sire,"  she  nid,  "  drink  to  me. 

As  the  gniae  is  of  mj  knule. 
And  I  diajl  dnnk  ag&in  to  tbee, 
Aa  to  lay  worthj  hnebrntde." 
Thie  sidemn  ocxemony  hiog  ctmcluded,  Fk>npu  informed 
her  gnesta  tliat  she  h«d  in  her  power  a  grat  vanetj'  of  exoel- 
lent  mitts  of  anaaar;  that  m  tlie  fbUftwing  moraing  they 
would  do  w«ll  tD  ansj  tkemsebes  in  tbeee,  and  when  the 
aondan  dio^d  be  at  dinner,  to  aawil  lum  and  hie  guests,  and  ^ 


ain  poiaeBnon  of  the  CMtle. 
»  MJuWyme 


This  Mjutwy  measure  was  Tery  neadj  diaoonoerted  hy  S 
Luka&»  of  Baldas,  who,  befi»e  the  aondan  went  to  taUe, 
'    '  a  to  nat  and  inturogate  the  p 


reqneeted  hia  permieaioa  to  nat  and  inturogate  the  prigonera. 
On  nproadung  the  chamber  of  ,Floripnfl,  ne  fi>nnd  the  <jat>r 
^dted;  but  tn  lie  wa»  a  man  of  little  ceremonj,  he  borat  it 


Ipcked;  b 

QB^.^JEi^LA..b]aw  o£  "hia  fist,  aud  entered.     Finding  nothiue 
Toescite  his  suspicionB,  he  entered  into  conveoation  witii 
I>iike  Na^rmefl;  aikd,  after  many  inquiiies  respectiiig  the  court 
of  CbarknuLgne,  asked  what  were  the  uon^  anmsementB  of  the 
knightfl  durii^  the  intermix  between  one  menl  and  another. 
"  Sir,  some  men  juat  with  spear  and  dueld. 
And  some  men  cand,  and  oing  good  songs; 
Some  shoot  with  dartes  in  the  field, 


And  eome  playen  at  chesa  amcMig." 
"  Ye  ne  be  but  fools  of  good  dnmort? 


I  wole  you  tcachen  a  new  juay ; 
Sit  down  here  by  one  assort. 

And  better  muth  nerer  ys  seigh."* 
He  tied  a  thread  on  a  pc^. 

With  8  needle  thenm  y-taat,' 
And  there  vipoa  a.  quick  coal; 

He  bade  evay  mnn  blow  his  blast. 
Duke  Nnymes  had  a  long  beard. 

King  Lukafere  bkw  even  to  him; 
Iliat  game  hod  he  never  before  lered  : 

He  brent  the  haii  of  Naymea'  beard  to  the  skin. 
This  oonfiagntian  incensed  J\\}i"  ^''p"'°fl.  y*"l  Mt  ^rfXt 
stare  by  his  long^  baud.     He  snatched  a  burning  log  from 
"  >  MbOemiM.  ■  S«nr.  »  Fntened. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


396  E&BLY    EVOLIBH    HBT&ICA^L    BOV.LMCE8. 

^   tli€  hearth,  applied  a  bbw  to  the  forehead  of  Lukafere,  which 

*- 1  V  beat  out  both  his  eyes,  seized  him  in  his  arms,  threw  him  oa 

"      Qie  hearth,  and  '"'Pt.^j;;^  C-"^  '"'^  ^^''  ^rfiiffltili  ^^  .*"* ''™' 

*      )>uraed  to  3eath;  tKc  gentle  Tloripas  contitiuiiig,  during  the 

y  ^   wWe  timci  to  applaud  the  execution. 

As  it  was  likely  that  Laban  would  be  Burprised  at  the  long 
absence  of  his  friend  Lnkafere,  the  princess  urged  the  kni^ts 
to  hasten  their  enterprise;  and  scarcely  hod  she  taken  her 
seat  at  table  when  they  rushed  into  the  hall,  and  put  all  the 
guests  to  the  ""•'^^^ijyTrtfPg  If^lf""  biir'^'''i  '''l"i  '^^""p^' 
closely  pursued  by  Olivier,  had  time  to  throw  himself  out  of 
vindow,  and  falling  on  the  soft  sand  of  the  sea-shore  escaped 
without  injury.  Ihe  surprise  of  the  castle  was,  however, 
complete ;  the  knights  found  themselves  in  possession  of  the 
souchn's  principal  treasurtM,  of  anus  and  military  engines  in 
abundance,  and  of  a  considerable  stock  of  provisions :  and 
though  Laban  immediately  sent  to  Mantrible,  another  of  his 
principal  citadels,  to  collect  the  means  of  besieging  Aigremor, 
they  Imd  hopes  of  receiving  asaiatance  from  Charles ;  and  in 
the  mean  time  the  Mr  Flonpas  exhorted  them  to  enjc^  thdr 
present  advantages  with  confidence. 

"Therefore  go  we  sup  and  make  merrie. 
And  taketh  ye  alle  your  ease ; 
And  thirty  maidens,  lo  here,  of  Assyrie, 

The  &irest  of  them  ye  chese :' 
Take  your  sport,  and  kithe*  yon  knights ; 

When  ye  shall  have  to-done. 
On  to-morrow  when  the  day  is  light. 

Ye  must  to  the  walles  gon. 
And  defend  this  place  with  cast  of  stone. 

And  with  shot  of  quarelles  and  dart; 

My  maidens  and  I  will  bring  good  wone,' 

So  everich  of  ns  shall  bear  his  part." 

Laban,  being  very  angry,  attempted  an  assanlt  before  ho 

had  collected  a  sufficient  body  of  assailants,  and  was  repulsed 

with  great  loss ;  after  -vrhich  he  assembled  his  wise  men,  and 

ordered  them  to  suj^est  some  more  efficacious  method  of 

retaking  his  city,     ^ey  obaervcd  to  him  that  the  kuights 

whom  he  besieged,  though  very  terrible  in  battle,  could  not 

live  without  food,  and  must  therefore  be  ultimately  compelled 

to  surrender  if  not  relieved  by  Charles;  and  that,  to  cut  off 

all  possibility  of  such  relief,  it  would  bo  necessary  to  prevent 

I  Choose.  •  Prove.  ■  Pl«tj. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


SIS   FEBDUBBAS. 


any  intercouiHe  between  the  besieged  and  the  Christian  camp, 
by  Bending  orders  that ^no^jwapn,  Uftiw  whatever  pretext, 
snonld  bg,,fuffejpd,.Jj).,.,^artlie  .hridge  of  ,Mantrible,  Hiis 
Ini^c,  over  a  dai^eroua  torrent,  was  guarded  lof  tlie  terrible 
giant  Alp)lnfre. 

Of  Ethiotw  be  waa  ti-bore. 

Of  the  kind.otAatopardB ; 
He  pad  tuskes  iiJie  a,^oar. 
And  li'cadi  liltc  a  libbayd.' 
He  had  raflferedTTEcT'rencli  'l^jil'gEta  tp  pna»  f}i^  hri^lg^'t        q^ 
faecanac  be  ^w^  "no"  o'rJcrs  to  the^co^tijiry ;  but  being  now  L' 

commanded  to  be  more  cautious,  he  swore  that  he  would  stop         ff 
all  comers,  and  exerted  all  his  ingenuity  in  fonning,  wita 
four  and  twenty  iron  chains,  a  sort  of  net-work,  throu^ 
which  no  human  strength  could  force  a  passage. 
..  \  J      The  Bondan,  however,  was  too  impatient  to  abstain  from  bit 
^  '\    daily  aasanlts,  in  which  he  was  sure  to  lose  some  of  his  best         ^  l 

warriors,  or  from  his  daily  imprecations  against  his  daughter,  V 

{  I  :  which  she  returned  from  the  walls  with  equal  volubility.     At 
length  Mersadage,  king  of  Barbary,  on  whom  he  had  the 

ritest  relitmce  after  the  death  of  Luko&re,  was  killed  by 
Guy,  who  shot  him  with  an  arrow. 
Hersadage,  king  of  Barbary, 

He  did  carry  to  his  tent, 
And  buried  him,  by  right  of  Saraceny, 

With  brenning  fire  and  ridi  ointment; 
And  nmg  the  dirige  of  Alkoran, 

That  Bible  is  in  their  lay. 
And  wailed  his  death  everyoh  one,  tc. 
After  which  it  became  necessary  to  revert  to  the  opinion  of 
tite  wise  men,  by  chaining  the  siege  into  a  blockade. 

As  the  twelve  peers  were  fond  of  good  living,  their  stock  of 
provisionB  was,  in  fiict,  very  soon  exhausted;   but  Floripas 
possessed  a  resource  with   which   the  wise  men  were  un-  m*-^ 
'A       acquainted.    Jlos.  vras  a  magical  girdle,  which  exempted     v^J^ 
'■    those  who  wore  it,  even  during  a  few  minutes,  from  feeling  in  Jf^ 
the  course  of  the  next  four  and  twenty  hours  the  efibcts  of  " 
hunger  and  thirst.     The  besieged,  therefore,  still  continued  to 
wait,  with  perfect  tranquillity,  till  the  soudan  should  rbnounce 
his  enterprise;  and  he  continued  from  day  to  day  to  wonder 
«t  their  persereisnce,  till  at  length  he  bethought  himself  of 
the  fiitaJ  girdle,  and  employed  a  thief  of  uncommon  dexterity,    , 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


398  EABI.T  EKGLIBH   METKICU.  SOMLUfCBS. 


oriled  M^iyne,  to  stesl 
fliwiiigh  ibs  chimney  into  the  cfaftmbcr  of  FlodpBB,  pot  a>  the 
giidle,  and  was  preparing  to  retire  when  tbe  pnnceM  swolce, 
mitA  by  her  cries  brought  Botand  into  the  rooBL.  Bniiill, 
jrith  qQe.blow,  struck  off  the  head  of  the  thief;  and  cconcks'- 
ing  the  botlj-  aa  of  little  value,  threw  it  out  of  3ie  wSdow 
into  the  sea,  but  was^soou  uJormed  iiy.thB  Ittrntl'tet'"'"'  "^ 
"Tlon'pas  thai  he  had  thrown"  away  their  whole  magazine  of 
jKWviwQps.  The  knight  now  regretted^no  less  thanThe  prin- 
ceafi~his  precipitate  act  of  vengeance,  bat  he  in  some  Mieaaure 
repaired  his  mistake  on  the  following  day  by  eurpriains  tbe 
enemy's  camp,_£(id  caiijing  off  a  convoy  whidi  insured  to  the 
little  garrison  seveisl  weeks'  subsistence. 

But  to  the  twelve  peers  of  France  a  beaiegjed  castle  wae 
abnost  as  tiresome  as  a  priaoii.  They  enjoyed,  indeed,  the 
pleasure  of  mord^'ing  Labon  to  such  a  degree  that  he  tnated 
his  gods,  and  even  their  priests,  with  die  utmost  ind^nity ; 
ihey  suffered  his  men  to  assault  their  walls  till  tbe  castle  diteh 
was  filled  with  assailants,  whom  they  thraL  cxuahed  with 
showers  of  stones;  and  at  otho'  timea  threw  amcmg  tbe  S*~ 
iBcen  troops  th<;  c|loicest  pieces  of  plate  in  the  eg^dan^^Jre*- 
Bur^,  till  his  avarice  compelled  tiim  to  sound  a  retreat.  Bvt 
t£cy  were  anxious  above  all  things  to  inform  Charlemagne  of 
their  aitoation,  and  deputed  Richard  of  Normandy,  one  of 
their  number,  to  undertake  this  dangerous  commission. 

For  the  purpose  of  occiq)ying  tbe  attention  of  the  enemy  at 
the  moment  of  his  departure,  his  eleven  coxnpanionB  made  ft 
nlly  which  fully  answered  this  pnrpoae;  but  their  valour 
hurried  them  too  far :  Sir  Bryer  of  Biitairr  was '  killed,  and 
they  experienced  a  still  greater  misfortune  in  ,the  loss  of  the 
_geiJie.Sir  Guy  of  Burgundy,  who  after  cleaving  to  tke  saiUUe 
a  wicked  king  of  Babvlone,  wjis  oTeiTKnvt're3  Tiy  numbere  and 
^Hrricd  prisoner  to  Xuban.  The  Eoudan,  on  hearing  his  nan^ 
wliich  he  was  too  proud  to  conceal,  ord^^  that  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  he  should  bc'Tanged  on  a  lofty  gallow&,  in  fiiQ 
■view  of  his  mistress,  and  that  a  Urge  body  of  the  brsvest 
troops  in  the  army  should  attend  the  execution  and  prevent  ft 
rescue.  Floripas  was  in  dt.<spair,  and  the  kni^ts  in  the 
greatest  affliction ;   but  Ttoland.  perfectly  iodifbrcni  to  the 

-  numbers  of  the  enemy,  having  directed  bis  frjcnds  to  arm, 
rttdicd  forth  at  their  head,  overturned  all  who  opposed  them, 
md  made  his  way  up  to  tbe  priaoner.  after  kJUing  a  king  <rf 

•     mdia,  who  was  fiwtnnately  poesewed  of  an  excellent  hone 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


and  sword,  at  ^  nme  moment  that  Olmer  cut  down  8ir 
Tampere,  the  intended  executioner.  Th^  then  tmbonnd  Sir 
Gay,  armed  him,  placed  iim  on  the  Indian  king's  hdrse,  and 
iffler  a  second  chaige,  which  threw  tiie  Saiaceoe  into  com- 
plete ccnfliaian,  again  tamed  towards  Iheir  citadel.  But 
bdbre  they  Tcaohea  tiw  gate  they  fell  in  with  a  conroy : 
CoBtroye  thare  was,  the  amiial, 

Wita^ritajje  great  pleiit4. 
And  the  standard'  of  the  aowdon  Toyil, 

Toward  Mantrible  ridden  hL' 


Of  diTen  colotm,  yellow,  white,  and  red. 
And  four  someres  of  apicery  fine. 
Flashed  with  victory,  the  ten  companiotu  determined  to 
attack  the  escort,  and  to  carry  off  the  convoy;  but  in  the 
finrt  instance  thought  fit  to  banter  poor  Cosbc^e,  and  gravely 
proposed  to  him  to  idiare  these  diunlies  with  them,  a  request 
which  he,  of  course,  refused  with  indignation. 
"O  gentil  knight,"  quoth  Olyvere, 

"He  is  no  fellow  that  will  have  aU!" 
"Go  fortk,"  quoth  the  at^dard,  "thou  gettest  none  here. 

Thy  part  shall  be  full  small ! " 
"  Forsoou,"  quoth  Roland,  "  and  eiiift  we  will, 
Get  tbe  better  who  get  may ; 
To  part  with*  Uie  needy  it  is  good  f^ilL ; 
And  so  shall  ye,  bj  lay  &yT" 
"With  these  words  he  rode  up  ^jhe  omtral,  and  divided  his 
headend  brain  with -great  accuracy,  whilst  Olivier  pierced 
the  heart  of  the  standa^-lie&rer.    ^lie  whole  escort  was  d»- 
sipated  in  to  instant ;  the  provisions  were  conveyed  into  dte 
castle ;  and  the  tender-hearted  princess,  rdoioed  at  the  rescue 
of  her  lover,  generously  proposed  to  the  (±ief  of  the  French 
knights  a  reoon^wnce  which  she  thought  best  suited  to  her 
oblation. 

Florype  said  to  Roland  than, 
"  Ye  mast  cbesen  ye  a  lieve,' 
Of  all  my  maidens  white  as  swan." 

Quatb  Roland,  "  That  were  a  mischief: 
Our  lay  will  not  that  we  with  you  deal. 
Till  that  ye  Christian  be  made ; 
Stndard-bearer.  *  Tbej.  ■  Birida,  dm*. 

ChooK  fonnelf  ■  iniitreu. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


400  ZAXI.T  EKGI.ISK  METBICiX   BOXUTCBa. 

N<v  of  your  play  we  wiQ  not  feel. 
For  dicn  were  wc  cursed  indeed!" 
whereby  the  maidens  of  tbe  fiur  princess  preaerrcd  their 
diastity  eome  time  longer. 

We  will  now  leaTe  the  Boudan  to  his  eternal  quArrcls  with 
his  gods,  whom  he  threatened  at  crerT  Biniater  turn  of  fbrtone 
to  throw  into  the  flames,  and  attend  upon  Richard  of  Nor- 
mandr,  who,  escaping  anohaerved  from  the  castle  of  Aigranor, 
had  taken  the  road  to  Charlemagne's  camp,  and  arrived  with- 
out accident  as  br  as  Mantrible.  But  on  reconnoitring  the 
fiunons  bridge,  he  saw  the  giant  on  the  watch  by  the  aide  of 
hia  cnrions  net- work  of  chains. 

When  Richard  saw  there  woa  no  gate' 

But  by  Flagote  ibe  flood, 
Uia  message  would  he  not  let ; 

Hi<  hone  was  both  big  and  good. 
He  kneeled,  beseeching  God,  of  his  gisca. 

To  save  him  fio  mischief: 
A  white  hjad-  he  saw  anon  in  that  piace. 

That  swam  over  to  the  cliff.  ■ 

He  bleesed  him  in  Goddia  name. 

And  followed  the  shme  way. 
The  gmtil  hind  that  was  so  tame. 
Tbit  on  that  other  side  gan  play. 
I^  mcwis  (^  this  miracle  the  good  knight  was  enabled  to 
teach  the  Ouistian  camp ;  but  mi  his  arriTal  was  not  a  little 
aarprised  to  find  the  whole  army  in  motimi,  and  maiehing 
towards  the  aea-toMt,  with  the  anpaicnt  intentim  of  quitting 
the  eonntrj.     Charles,  it  aeenw,  had  been  p»snaded  hy  the 
'  traitor  Ganehm  that  it  was  nselem  to  wait  any  longer  for  his 
tw«lT*  peers,  who  were  probahfy  killed,  and  eqnally  nadeflB 
to  attempt  without  than  the  ivtsmsj  cf  the  rdiqnes  which 
bad  been  so  long  in  the  poGsessioD  of  Lshan.     But  tbe  si^t 
<tf  Richard,  and  the  inlormatioa  which  he  coBreyed  lespeetinK 
the  brare  men  in  the  castle  <^  .Ugremor,  instantly  reealled 
him  to  himselll  and  induced  him  to  lead  bis  army  with  all 
posdblc  speed  to  the  bni%e  ol  31antiible. 

But  the  giant  and  his  nec-worii  presented  an  obetade  whicji 
U  was  not  easy  to  oTeteame  by  mere  finee.  Ridtard  there- 
fijre  pmqnoed  that  the  army  dranld  hah  aa  its  mnA  within 
the  Terge  of  dw  k^oining  finest,  wUle  be  and  twelve  mMc 
knights,  disguiaed  aa  menbanta,  with  padts  oa  their  horses, 
■W.J. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BIB  FEBUMBB&B. 


should  endeavour  to  get  over  the  bridge,  or  at  all  events 
engage  the  giant  in  a  parley,  during  which  Richard  would 
blow  his  horn  as  a  sigmd  that  the  army  mast  hasten  to  his 
agsistance.  *^g?1tt^  seeing  them  approach,  asked  whither 
they  wanted  to  go  ? 

Richard  Bpe^e  to  the  geaunt. 

And  Boid,  "  Toward  the  eowdon, 
With  divers  chaffer,  as  tfue  merchaunta, 

We  purpose  for  to  gon. 
To  shew  hun  of  pelure  and  grise,^ 

Orfrays*  of  Perse  Imperial; 
We  wol  thee  give  tribute  of  assay. 
To  pass  by  licence  in  especial," 
Algdnfre,  true  to  his  instmctions,  reused  to  let  them  pass; 
but  OS  it  was  not  contrary  to  his  duty  to  teil  them  a  atory,  he 
Jffld  them  all,  ftboat  the  twelve  knights  who  had  done  bo  much 
Biiachief  to  his  master  Labim,  and  was  a  good,  deal  .surprised 
when  RicTiard,  in  .the  midst  of  this  relation,  suddenly. broke 
t^  thread  of  his  nfinutivc  by  blowing  his  horn  with  the  great- 
"i^Bt  Tiqlettce.  The  giant  had  very  long  arms  and  a  stout  oaken 
pole  headed  with  steel,  which  he  wielded  with  such  dexterity 
as  to  keep  at  bay  the  crowd  of  valiant  knights  who  now  as- 
sailed him,  till 

*  Richard  raught*  him  with  a  bar  of  braas 

That  he  caught  at  the  gate ; 
He  brake  his  legs ;  he  cried,  alas  I 

4nd  fell  all  chei^-mate. 
Loud  then  gan  he  yell, 

Th^  heivd  him  veil  throogh  that  dt^, 
Like  the  gi«at  devil  of  hell ; 

And  said,  "  Mahoun !  now  helpe  me." 
Four  men  him  caught  there, 
So  heavy  he  was  and  long. 
And  caste  him  over  into  the  ryvere, 
Chese  he  whether  to  swim  or  gong.* 
ThcknightsnowlooBened  the  chains,  and  ulvanced  towards 
the  walls  of  the  city,  but  were  suddenly  assailed  by  another 
monster  not  less  fbnnidable  than  j^Jufilijifty,  ^ough  of  a  dif- 
ferent sex.     Her  name  waej^njgt  and  she  mowed  down  thn 
Christians  with  a  scythe  without  appearing  at  all  disturbed 
by  their  tcsistiuice.    ' 

■  Fan  of  JUfewnt  Miti.        *  Embnnddy.        *  Readied.        *  Go. 
2l> 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


KAALT  EHOLIBE  XBTBICIX  B01fAJ<C£S. 

Tbia  Banok  wu  a  giuttcM, 

And  wiA  die  wsa  to.^j^ici#; 
ara  did  the  Ouistiue  great  difllraB, 

»ie  felled  down  aU  dtat  she  smot 
There  dmst  no  man  ber  scythe  ahide ; 

She  grinned  lika  a  deril  of  heQ: 
King  Charies,  with  a  qoareUc,  Umi  tide 

&note  Ji^f  tint  iJ***  loud  gan  j^li, 
Over  the  Dtn^  tnm^^Mntt  the  famin; 

That  coned  Stmi  M  down  deed,  be. 
dutries  now  pressed  farwvd,  and,  without  waiting  to  coUect 


his  KKAnb,  fiidltnted  tiM  ^ing  enemy  Dnongfa  Ae  outward  gate 

of  toe  town,  whi^  win  instantlf  closed  upoa.  him,  so  that  he 

•  iband  himself  awailed  on  all  qoartcsB,  wittont  the  ponibility 


of  T"~'™'g  his  retreat.  At  thia  xm/nfut  dw  trnfidiaas  Qandon 
ezt^dmed  that  the  kii^  was  taken  priaoaer,  that  Bobnd 
and  CHiTier  ww«  dead,  that  the  cmwu  waa  now  his  right, 
mmI  that  it  was  his  will  immediBt^  to  retam  to  Fninoe. 
Tte  soUien,  aecostnoaed  to  obey,  JMtantly  hegaa  to  retreat 
Of  the  kH^ts  irtw  wne  witncMee  to  thia  stoange  soene  none 
bad  u-K-'i*™*  ostiMMn^  to  inlerifeie ;  when  FeraintiKaB  comii^ 
np,  and  tnoainag  ■■■*"  tbe  canse  of  this  coofbaioo,  was  tannt- 
inglj-  answered  b]r  Ganelon  that  the  Idng  was  a  priaoner 
■wmng  tite  Soiaceaa.  He  ■■"*ti-^']'  ^tfiti  ml. 
"  Tun  again,  thov  traihinr. 

And  hdpe  to  lesrae  thy  kod ; 
And  ye.  sira  aD, — taeyvoK  boaavr!"— 

Tbey  tamed  again  at  that  wwd ! 
FtonwJxaa,  witb  ax  in  bond, 

Mightify  bnice  iq»  tfae  gate : 

nme  m«^  laat  bin  none  inm  bond ; 

He  bad  ^ar-lHnd  fwi^  bn  latn. 

Ibe  king,  however,  tto«|^  acadjr  exbansted,  was  still  nn- 

biut,  and  Fouahna  had  tke  haama  of  nnng  bis  life,  and  of 

putting  him  in  poveamoa  rftbn  nJnable  tieaamy.  and  of  dte 

anMamoi  Militai]r  engine  lAidt  had  kmg  be^  depoaited  by 

d»  Saneen  biags  m  ae  Sbwig  fartMw  of  Matfritife. 

anolhar  sort,  -^AiA  CWdn  ewiidHed  ss  hig^  i 

BidMid,  dnke  cf  NoBnaady, 
Fooad  two  ikOdn  of  seva 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


Sla  FBBniiBBAS.  403 

F«iirteen  feet  long  they  mie : 

Tbey  w^  Bamkla  aoM  ao  bold. 
Begot  they  were  of  Astngott; 

Great  jojr  dw  kiDg  of  them  had : 
Heathen  thej  were  both,  I  vot. 

Therefore  them  to  be  ehnetened  fae  bade. 
He  aOed  Hiat  one  of  themBoltwd. 

And  that  other  he  cleped  Q^Yyarc ; 
For  tbey  shall  be  mighty  men  of  haod. 

To  keepen  them  he  was  fall  cheer. 
Iltw  mi^tt  not  leave  their  dasft  was  dead ; 

libey  could  not  keep  them  f<vt)k ; 
ThOT  would  neither  eat  butter  nor  tn«ad, 

Nor  no  man  to  Uiem  waa  worth. 
Their  dam's  milk  the;  lacked  there, 

Titey  dieden  for  defiuilt  of  their  dam ; 
King  Cbarles  made  heavy  cheer, 

iuid  a  sorry  man  was  tiian. 
Bat  whaterer  might  be  the  teadamaas  of  his  affection  tat 
jhese  ""V.el'iy  !"*«"*•■  I  he  had  now  no  time  to  indulge  hie 


dred  knights  in  MantriUe,  and  b 
army  to  Aigremor.  The  b«iui«-  of  Fratea,  and  that  of  Fe- 
rumoras,  were  first  descried  by  the  &ir  Fleripas ;  and  tbe 
joyftil  tidily  bong  eratummicated  to  W  tan  ehamf^ona,  Hiey 
flew  to  j«xn  &9  army  of  ChailemagiM,  aad,  as  may  be  sqi. 
poaed,  oontribnied  iKtt  a  Httle  to  tlw  total  disAM  of  die  San. 
oeiu,  who,  hanng  no  ^ace  of  i«tieat,  wne  forced  to  risk  tbe 
ereat  of  a  battle.  Chaiiea  paaonal^  enQooBtered  I^baa, 
aad,  havii^  vshoned  him,  was  prepaimg  tn  cut  off  Ua  bead, 
whnt  Feranbna  interfered,  and  rcqoetted  tittt  hia  fbtfaer 
mi^ht  not  die  -"'"t**"''*,  but  be  con^^^  as  a  priseser  to 
the  castle  of  Aipemoi.  Here  the  &ir  Fkinpat  jwesanted  ts 
Chariemagae  the  precions  iieliqnea  bniwrttt  k^  Bone,  w&ieh 
be  loeeinKl  on  his  bnes,  and  kissed  wiUi  daa  de>fotiaa ;  after 

King  Charles  did  call  Bishop  Turpin, 
And  bade  hitn  ordain  a  great  yat 

To  baptise  the  Bowdan  in, 
And  look  what  he  shall  hat' 

>Bb  called. 

2Da 


j„.„^L,Cooj^|i: 


4M  SAXXT  BKOUSH  1[KIKICA£  XOKAKCSS. 

"  Unham  him  &at  and  Ining  him  Dear, 
I  shaU  hia  god-firthn  be : 
Fill  it  full  of  mler  clear. 

For  baptised  AaU  he  be. 
Hake  him  naked  as  a  child, 
Ue  must  phmge  therein ; 
For  now  must  he  be  meek  and  mild. 

And  f-waah  away  hta  sin." 
"niriHn  took  bim  hj  the  bond. 

And  led  him  to  the  fint; 
He  cmot  the  iMabi^  with  a  brood. 

And  gave  him  an  eril  brant. 
He  spitted  in  the  water  desr. 
And  cried  tmt  aa  &aa  all. 
And  defied  all  that  Christiaii  were. 
That  Ibol  may  him  be&ll ! 
Hie  intended  proadyte  beii%  so  imtractable,  and  oontintiiBr 
to  vent  his  i«ge  in  vi^eut  imprecatiotiB  against  his  aoa  and 
dangfater,  ther«  lenuuned  no  ahematiTC  but  to  order  him  to 
jj^nunliiiK.  ezecutkua ;  and  accordin^y 
It  was  done  as  the  king  cnn 
'Hie  sool  was  fet  to  bell. 
To  duice  in  that  atary  land. 
With  derils  diat  were  fuD  felL 
It  now  on^  remained  fcr  CSademagne  to  acquit  KjiimpW  of 
his  many  oMigalinna  to  the  bir  Flwqns  hy  mm^ii^  her. 
■■•mediatdy  after  her  baptism,  to  her  dear  Sir  Giiy,  on  wbam 
be  bestowed,  aa  a  marriage  pottkm,  ooe-half  of  ^oain,  at  the 
same  time  »i»»*t>»jp-B— »J  *&•  f..r,wwij^j,^  i„  ppsscssiwi  of 
the  TWMJiwliT  -   Hgtlmn,  kfter  exhorting  diese  two  j»tmi«i 
to  preeerra  thrai^  Ule  tlw  smliBientE  rf  fiattaual  a&ction 
for  each  other,  and  of  friendship  towaids  him,  took  a  tettda- 
k«T«  of  th«n,  aud  letnmed  with  his  anny  to  Ttaaet,  whexe 
be  deposited  his  precious  reliques  in  the  principal  chnrches  of 
Fms  and  tst-  Dmos..   The  sturv  ends  witli  tl^  execution  of 
the  traitor  Gannon,  who  was  lianged  aa  a  k^  giUiet  at 
MoBl£tu««. 


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INTRODUCmON  TO  THE  SEVEN  WISE  MASTERS. 


Tbi  Vrench  minatreli,  the  eiilj  Italian  norduta,  ind  the  snthor  of  Gata 
BomtiiOTiim,  were  indebted  for  a  Tarietf  of  itotiei  tnnilated  bj  Petnu 
AlphoDsm  frwa  the  Arabic,  and  perhapi  oripnally  famiihed  to  the 
Anbiani  themaelTei  by  lome  of  their  eutem  neighbonra.  Another  work 
wbidi  onr  anceitora  nnqneationablj  borrowed  from  the  Eait,  and  whii^, 
paulng  in  incxeHiai]  through  almost  all  the  langaagea  of  Asia  aod  Europe, 
preiened,  nnder  erery  change  the  aame  degree  of  popularity  which  it  had 
Bcqoired  in  its  natiTO  idiom,  is  the  collection  of  fables  rnl^ly  attribated 
to  FIlpaT  or  Bidpai.  These  indeed,  u  ^  aa  I  know,  were  aerer  traiu- 
bted  in  their  original  itate  by  oar  Engiish  minatrela :  but  there  ii  a  third 
work,  equally  of  oriental  origia,  and  of  not  len  celebrity  than  either  of  the 
foregoing,  whidi  hai  famished  Ms  with  an  Engtiah  metrical  romanoe,  v 
named  in  the  Cotton.  HS.  "The  Proceas  of  the  Seryn  Sagea,"  or,  to  lue 
the  mon  famiUir  and  popular  title  of  Che  prose  traDslation,  "The  Seven 
Wise  hlasterai"  and  it  may  be  reasonably  expected  that  the  analysis  of 
this  romance  should  be  preceded  by  a  history  of  the  different  forms  un^ler 
whidi  it  has  been  saccesdTety  exhituted. 

This,  howerer,  is  a  mitter  of  extreme  intricacy,  and  which  had  nenr 
been  oompletely  iuTBatigated  excepting  by  Douce,  wbo,  by  punuing  IJm 
hint!  thrown  out  by  l^rwhitt,  Wartoii,  and  others,  has  tnced  a  great 
put  of  the  materiali  employed  by  our  early  fabuliita  to  their  remotest 
sources,  and  to  whose  notes  1  have  been  obliged  for  all  tbe  infbnnatioQ 
wUdi  I  can  Tcnture  to  offer  on  this  obscure  and  difficult  subject. 

There  is  good  reason  to  betiefe  that  the  prototype  of  this  romance  wis 
"lie  Book  of  the  Seten  Connaellora,  or  Paiablea  of  Sendebar  or  Sanda. 
bar,"  an  Indian  [rfuloaopher,  who  is  stated  by  Ismael  Sciah-hinsciab,  aa 
Arebian  compiler  of  a  cbrouicle  from  Adam  to  tbe  year  of  the  Hegira  487 
(A.D.  1D94),  to  have  lired  about  a  hundred  years  before  the  Christian  en.i 
He  ii  sometimes  called  chitjfoftke  leget  of  India.  These  parables  hsTS 
bMn  printed  in  Hebrew  only,  under  cl)e  title  of  Hitekle  SoHJaiar,  first 
■t  ConsCantiDople  in  1517,  and  afterwards  st  Venice  in  1544  and  1A08,  *t 
the  end  of  another  Hebrew  work,  entitled  "Tbe  Words  of  the  Days  of 
Moaea."*  There  is  a  MS.  of  them  in  the  Britlih  Hnaenm,  among  tbe 
Barldan  MSS.  No.  S449,  written  in  a  Tery  bad  hand.  It  has  sm  ano- 
nymaus  Latin  note,  the  snbitance  of  which  ia,  that  it  had  t>een  translated 
oat  of  the  Indian  language  into  Persjan  and  Arabic,  and  from  thence  hito 
Hebrew,  by  Rsbbi  Joel.  The  Latin  title  is  "Hiitoria  de  Rege  et  Filiis 
Cjni  ex  Orient.  Hidia,  Komen  ejus  fuit  Biebar."  The  word  in  Italics  ia 
written  in  a  different  hand,  aa  ii  also  the  bllowing  note  at  tbe  bottom  of 
the  page:  "HiatOTiola  de , Biebar  Hega   ludorum  Orfsktelium   et  IHiis 

'  The  exact  period  at  which  he  floarished  ia  unknown,  but  two  Oriental 
writers  dted  by  M.  Deslongcbampa  mention  the  third  century  B.C. 

■  Qroddeck  Descr.  RabUnie.  apnd  Placcii  Tbeatmm  anonym,  et  psatt* 
dmyra.    Hambnrgt,  17DS,  p.  6BB;  et  WoUUBibL  Hebnic.  1.  931. 


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406  EAIU.T  EKGLIBH  UETBIC&L  SOUAITGES. 

giu."  At  the  end  of  the  MS.,  which  emmita  of  fiftr-"!  I^^a  ■>  ■mD 
qOMita,  on  ■  flying  leaf,  tlie  cooUnts  of  the  work  are  Kgain  described.' 

As  we  haie  no  rmtioniJ  ground  for  hoping  thil  the  Indiu  original,  if  it 
erer  eiiited,  will  agiin  be  brongbc  to  light,  it  i>  rancb  to  be  withed  &at 
we  conld  obtun  ■  Utenl  Tcnion  of  tiie  ucient  c<^f  >  which  i>  likely  to  be 
of  Hole  iotereet  to  the  Hebrew  ichohir,  bnt  would  be  Tcrj  nliubk  to  the 
VUnrj  antiqauT.  and  perhaps  not  nnamuiiiig  to  the  general  reader. 
Indeed  it  teenu  to  be  owing  to  a  sart  of  fttalitj  that  we  do  not  alrcadj 
poeatsi  >aeh  a  traiulation,  becaase  it  appeara,  by  the  Latin  doMmiBta 
■ecompanfing  the  Harleian  MS.  already  mentioned,  that  Gilbert  GaoUnini 
fntoaar  of  the  Habrew  language  at  I^iria,  actually  completed  the  woA, 
which  he  illoitnted  with  note*,  and  intended  fiir  publicatian.  but  ucner 
lUfilled  his  intention.  After  bis  death,  the  learnBd  Qroddeck,  profaanc 
of  oriental  tasiguagta  at  Leipng,  entered  into  the  same  engagement.  It  !• 
also  anpposed  that  a  Latin  nrnon  by  Wigenaeil  eiiili  in  MS.  in  the 
Senatorial  library  at  Leipng ;'  besides  which.  James  BoDaieDtnTB  Hq>- 
bum,  a  Scotchman  of  the  order  of  Mioinii,  a  great  tnveUer  and  Itaraed 
Hebrnifltt  and  overseer  of  tbe  oriental  books  in  the  Vatican,  ia  f  aid  to  bare 
translated  into  Latin  the  Parables  of  Sandabar  with  tbe  Gests  of  tbt  Seva 
Wise  Men.'  In  the  mean  time,  the  reader  will  hare  perceiTOd  that  the 
foregoing  documents  arv  not  etea  auffictent  to  eiplajn  to  ns  whether  SaA-  . 

dabu-  was  the  author  of  tbe  book  to  which  be  has  giTcn  bis  name,  or  ai}j  I 

tbe  euential  character  in  tbe  pteoe,     Ndther  do  we  know  any  thinf  Bitia-  ! 

hetory  eonoeming  Babbi  Jod,  nor  eien  tbe  time  in  which  be  lived, 
Ihoi^b  there  are  reaaons  for  snppoaiiig  that  he  mnit  hare  writtoi  ai  earij 
aa  the  middle  of  the  l*tb  centary. 

After  the  Hebrew  Tersion  of  the  Parahlei,  tbe  neit  in  point  of  antiqnitjr 
which  occnn  ia  in  the  Greek  langosge,  and  known  to  Uie  learned  oBder 
fta  nanw  of  SyatrfMt.  Of  this  many  MSS.  an  extant,  bnt  It  is  ootaa^ 
to  aacertun  tram  -what  ortgioal  it  was  immediitely  borrowed.  A  HS. 
dted  by  Db  Cai^  profkMs  to  be  trsntUted  from  theSyriae^  aa  doea  a 


tSnCTle,  and  now  in  the  Impeml  library  at  Viesnat*  and  •  third,  nid  to 
exitf  at  Hoieow,  and  to  bare  been  written  before  tbe  14th  century.  On 
tbe  other  hand,  a  copy  in  Ute  Britub  Mueom  [iirifiinn  to  haie  ban 
Innilated  from  the  Perilc  ao  late  as  1667.*  Monieor  Dader  has  mitt^ 
m  exptta  dinertatian  on  (he  Syntipaa,  of  whidi  he  Anmd  a  MS.  iif  the 

■  "  In  bac  sdlieet  hiitorioll  aeu  fobnl&  agltnrde  calliditate  fixminanun, 
et  qnonodo  twmi  prndentii  filini  regis  India  nomine  Baliber  a  matte  dt 
Qboatai.  Sandabu-  iste  erst  priocepg  sapieoCnm  Biadiaiaiioram  IndiB, 
et  magnam  babet  partem  in  toti  hac  histarill.  In  fine  libri  dicitnr  Sandb- 
bar  obiiiae  snnoa  natns  130."  Tbe  word  ear«M  ii  evidently  a  midAs, 
and  pobapa  copied  AmnWolfliu,  who  (Bibl.  Habr.  i.  931)  gin*  a  simitv 
deacription  of  the  work;  whllat  Qroddeck.  who  hsi  also  givea  an  accomit 
of  it,  seems  to  aacribe  the  wlKiom  and  pmdeace  to  Saudahsr. 

■  WoIOl  Bibl.  Rebr.  i.  931.  '  Demiter  Hist.  Ecolea.  GaL  EooL 
p.  364,  and  Mickeniie's  Scotiah 'Writera,  iiL  516.  *  Dufreau  Olask 
med.  et  inflm.  Gr«c.  Ind.  Aoetor.  p.  73.  '  Naaa.  CataL  BibL  Cm. 
'nndob.  par.  v.  171.          ■  BarL  MSS.  No.  SS6a. 


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IHTSUDVOXEOV  TO  XKE  SETEK  TTItX  XAStEHB.       407 

IMi  EotBT.  wiitteti  on  frnpn,  in  tiie  Rendi  NMund  TJbnrj,  No.  2913. 
nda  [mill  iiiM  to  be  ■  litsnl  nrnon  from  die  S^riec.  It  hu  an  ar^Biaent 
bj  the  LiMtolcr,  taOumi  bj  >  •hart  ednrtinmt,  BlatBg  that  tlie  nae 
hMcoy  bad  been  writtea  in  Panic  bj  one  Hnne  or  Utwea.  Hie  ontlin* 
of  tfaeltoiy,  MgWcubr  U.  Dacisr,  tais  tidlowi. 

Cjmi  hai  ecven  wi«et,  bat  no  cUldien.  At  ItOftii,  ■Aer  pottjng  ap 
pwyw  Id  Hearen.  be  bee  ■  Km  wbo  i<  plaeed  in  the  hende  of  atoMr: 
Mt  Uie  Toong  prinee,  efter  a  period  of  tbrae  J»iBt,  darrring  no  lirillt 
from  Up  intfroctiona,  is  Donmiitlnl  to  tlie  diai^  of  the  philoaopber  Spi- 
t^M^'ho  eagiget  to  conplrte  fail  edocatioa,  uid  Tctnin  him  to  hie 
parenta  at  the  end  of  aix  montha  and  u  many  daifi.  Be  ia  oondiictod  to 
a  bowe  on  the  mils  of  «hidi  fafa  wmKa  had  wnaed  the  planeta,  the 
biltey  of  the  world,  Su^,  to  be  paintad  for  lu  inalnctian,  and  lM»a 
.  beeoBua,  within  the  itipulated  time,  ■>  aeoianplidmd  at  to  nrpMt  Ui 
totar'a  (Bpectatuu.  Sjmtipai,  hebn  be  dsddei  an  noond>o6ng  tbn 
prince  to  hia  fatber,  antmlta  the  atan  eoneanin;  hta  deatinjr,  and  tadi 
Oat  fak  life  win  be  in  great  jeopardr  nolMa  ha  on  ywaanw,  daring  waea 


raaoba  to  eonoeal  liliiiaiilf  in  the  taaan  time,  in  older  to  Bind  tte  nituri 
icientm^of  thekit^onfiDdinghiaKinmDtB.  Cyru  ia,  in  ftot,  grtallr 
enraged ;  and,  bring  penuaded  b;  fail  conrtien  that  SyntipM  baa  giMn 
hia  aon  mae  medicine  wfaiidi  hai  dBprired  him  of  apeech,  aearebea  in  nin 
Ibr  the  [riiiloBOpbar.  At  length  one  of  tlie  king'a  wiirea  nadirtahei  to  £>• 
eovar  tfae  caaae  uf  the  prinne'i  ailence,  and,  in  a  prirate  iBtavlmr  wHk 
Un,  Mtenpta  to  aednee  bin  to  ber  eBbnaca,  offoing  to  plaee  Urn  on  Iki 
throne^  putting  hia  father  to  daatk,  on  ooodUioD  of  hia  taking  btr  to  bte 
bed.  The  prince,  atmck  wtlh  honor  at  'Ua  atraeiona  piopoaal,  and 
nnable  to  preeerre  ailence,  replica,  "  Knew,  wiokafl  woman,  that  I  am  for 
the  preaent  prohiliited  A-om  aiBwiiiini,  yoB{  bitt,  at  the  end  of  aena 
dajB — "  and  then  becomea  bmM  (a  b^ae.  1^  dkappointed  woman  in 
lerenge  BccoMa  him  of  hnring  Bttamptad  her  dwali^,  and  he  ia  condemned 
to  die.  Tbe  king,  boweirer,  laa  aaran  pbiloaopbeii,  wfio,  nupecting  the 
blaehood  of  the  chaiga.  engage  Id  ai|4u5  a  d>f  eadk  in  endeiTonring  to 
dianiade  the  king  from  eieotting  Ae  aaitenee.  nia  leada,  of  conrae.'ta 
tiw  itoriea,  each  pMoaufher  faialiiB  too,  and  tte  princeaa  repljiog  with 
11  manf.  The  aerenth  day  at  laat  arriaaa,  md  die  prince,  breaking 
nlenae,  reUtea  tbe  canae  of  it,  and  tgpnaa  tlae  m^adneaa  of  hia  aecnaer. 
Cjnm  new  praponndi  aa  a  qnaMiM  to  Oe  pUbaopfaen,  WhaOar,  if  be 
Imd  put  hii  aon  to  doth,  tbe  yihuu,  or  Oe  bdr,  or  hi^rif,  woald  bane 
been  gnilty  of  a  ciimB!  He  b  not  aatiafled  with  their  ofnaien,  aad  Ae 
qneetion  is  at  Ust  reatdred  br  (be  prtnoe  hi— rif,  in  ^  apalogDe,  to  which 
he  adds  twootlierwliimiicdatariea,of  wUab,eq«H.I>acier,  it  is  difficult 
to  comprehend  the  moraL  nw  ladj  ia  Um  tmieied  into  court;  and 
bsTing  confesKd  Iter  guilt,  Oe  Hag  in^uh»a  sf  the  pbiloaopfaen  what 
pnniihment  >he  dcBerrea.  Verr  a«d  tortnaaa  aicpnipostd.  She  relates 
■  atory  to  prore  that  it  ia  betnc-t*  avri**,  aWB  in  a  nntilBted  atate,  than 
Indie.  The  prinee  then  aanaafc,  aa  «  Tunai^n't  faeWar  antted  to  Ihe 
nffrmm,  that  aba  AiaU  Imaa  )mr  head  Aataad,  nd  he  iMUkiy  lad  ttova^i 
tfaecitTonaaaaa;  and  Ibia  awitiweeiainimediatalycaniadinta  exeention. 
Cjrraa,  endmnted  widi  hit  aon^  wtado^  denai^  tf  Sfntipes  how  it 


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408  EAKLT  EirOLIBH  XETBICAL  BOIUITCH. 

hl^penad  that  he  had  uqnind  M>  mocii  knowledge  in  (D  ihiirt  t  time. 
He  ueribcs  it  to  tlw  mSnence  of  tlie  itar  under  wtiid)  he  wu  born,  uid 
Idli  ».  ttOTj  to  ihoiT  that  all  eduotian  i>  lueleu  when  >  mxlignant  planet 
bti  prendtd  at  the  ebild'a  natlTitf .  Tliii  ii  the  lait  aCory ;  and  is  follatred 
bj  many  moral  qaotioiu  pat  bj  the  king  to  his  »oa,  who  nsolrefl  them. 

Tb^  Ddt  qipeannoe  of  the  Parables  wu  in  L«tiii.  Tbia  U  aud  to 
Lara  beau  written  by  Jeui  de  Hauteaeiie,  or  AlCaTilU,  in  Lorraine. 
Whether  any  eop;  of  it  be  now  eiiidng  ia  a  matter  of  gnat  nneataiatf . 
Even  iti  title  ti  nnknown ;  nor  ahonld  we  periupt  hsTe  ever  heard  of  it, 
bnt  for  ita  translation  into  French  vene,  whence  it  aunmed  the  iCrange 
denomination  of  Dolofatos. 

Tbia  aingnlar  work  wai  firat  brought  to  light  by  Fauchet,  who,  in  his 
■ccoant  of  the  etrlf  French  poeCa,  ucribet  it  to  one  Hebera  or  Herbers, 
m  ecdesiaatie,  «ham  be  rightly  auppoiea  to  hav«  liTed  ander  the  reign  of 
Louis  VIII.,  who  died  in  122G.>  M.  Daderaajs  that  Hebera' tranilation 
ia  only  known  from  fragments  in  Fauchet,  and  in  Du  Verdier,  who  copies 
Fauchet,  and  in  a  collection  called  "  Le  Coaaemteor,"  for  Jannuy, 
1760;  the  latter  of  which  had  been  supplied  from  a  MS.  in  the  Sorboune, 
whidiliaa  rince  been  aought  for  in  vain.*  Hedoeanot  appear  tohavesEen 
■Qy  MS.  of  it;  for  which  reason  it  mny  be  of  aie  to  point  ont  one  which 
kaa  lately,  at  the  reqaest  of  Mr.  Douce,  been  inspected  bj  hia  friend  the 
JMit  de  U  Rue,  a  gentlBmin  well  known  to  the  English  reader  by  his 
nluable  eaaays  on  the  early  French  poets,  in  the  12th,  13tb,  and  14lh 
volnmea  of  the  Arcfaaologis.  lliia  MS.  ii  in  the  National  library  at 
Paria,  i*  nnmbEred  7535,  and  waa  written  in  the  13th  centuiy.  It  OOB- 
taina  aboat  9000*erses.    At  the  beginning  are  these  lines, 

Un  blanc  moine  de  bele  ne, 

De  Halteselve  I'Abeie, 

A  crate  hiatoire  norel^i 

Per  bel  Latin  1'  a  ordenje, 

Heriiera  le  TClt  en  romans  Iraire. 

•  •  •  •  • 

Si  com  Dans  Jdiani  noui  deriae. 

Qui  en  Latin  I'iatoire  miat, 

Et  Herbers  qni  le  romans  tK: 

Del  Latin  en  romana  le  traist, 

Ce  fd  il  tens  que  Is  flora  naist. 
The  history  takes  place  under  the  reign  of  Angnstos  Cosar.     Doloapa- 
tos.  king  of  Sicily,  is  the  fatherof  the  young  prince,  who  ia  oiled  Ladnien. 
Tirgil  it  hi*  tutor. 

Au  tens  qu'  Augustas  tenmt  Kome, 

Qui  aires  fa  de  lant  prodome, 

Fn  n^  un  rois,  molt  noble  bom, 

Qni  Dolospaloa  SToit  nom. 

Sagea  bom  ert,  et  de  gnnC  losj 

For  ei,  bI  aom  Dolapatoi, 

Although  aereral  of  the  atoriea  in  this  work  are  extremely  licmtiDna, 

Hebera  haa  not  scrupled  to  commit  it  to  the  care  of  a  dignified  ecdeaiostlc. 

>  (EuTresde  Faocbet,  fii.  660,  veno,  edit.  1610,  4ta. 

*  Hem.  de  TAcad.  des  loacr.  lil.  p.  SS7. 


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IllTSOB'nGTTON    TO    THE    BETEH    WISE    UABTBBS.       409 

Hcben  define  ici  ton  tirre ; 
A  rcTcvqne  de  Mema3C  ]e  liTre, 
Qui  Diez  d<^t  boiKiT  en  n  vie.' 

It  hu  alradj  bam  obaened  Out  it  it  not  certain  iriiether  an;  eo^  of 
HBntaehe'i  LMin  woilc  be  uoir  remaining.  There  ii  indeed  ■  book 
oititled  "  HMoria  CalmmUi  Nimrcatit  qna  Septcm  Stpimtnm  inicri- 
bitnr  {uvb  Hiitoni  Hencliti,  intore  D.  Joanne  Moniicho  Abbotin  Tolga 
dietn  HanteselTe  sen  HauteKiUe),"  printed  at  Antwerp  b;  Gerird  Leen, 
1490,  quano.  On  thia  title,  which  ii  copied  ftom  the  ctCaloiine  of  the 
printed  booki  in  the  king  of  Prance'a  librar)',  lol.  ii.  p.  4,  M.  Datier 
remarks,  that  Che  irordi  in  the  pfirentheni  are  not  in  the  booli  itielf;  and 
tliat  tba  editor,  in  a  ibort  preface,  declam  tlie  title  to  be  of  bis  own 
imentiou,  and  that  he  hat  aaanmed  Ibe  liberty  of  changing  the  names  of  the 
dianctera  and  corTActing  the  stjle.  The  book  ii  extmnely  rare ;  bnt  Mr. 
Donee  w«a  connnced  by  a  fngmeat  of  it  which  he  inapected,  that  it  was  not 
HanteaelTE'twork,  bat  mbitantially  a  different  Idtin  bittory  of  the  Seroi 
Wise  Hen,  which  will  be  moitioned  preaently,  newly  written  and  arranged. 

Hie  next  work  to  be  noticed  it  one  of  which  no  aocoant  whatever  hat 
bitheito  beeo  giTen,  Ihongb  it  will  be  fonnd  to  merit  wme  attention.  It 
la  a  HS.  of  the  thirteenth  centnry,  in  the  French  N^ional  LibTary,  num- 
bered 7595,  in  French  rerse,  bnt  by  an  anonymona  anthor.  There  is  no 
mention  ia  any  part  of  it  eitber  of  HaateaelTO  or  of  Herbers,  and  its  bnlk  ia 
Dot  equal  to  more  than  one-third  of  the  Dolc^iatoa.  The  emperor  it  Vei- 
paaiaii,  ion  of  Mathnaalem,  and  the  wise  men  are  Bacilla),  Lentulnt,  Cato, 
Malquidat,  Jeue,  Damnaa,  and  Birent.  Mr.  Dooce  belines,  with  great 
^pearance  of  probability,  that  thia  work  was  the  immediaCa  anginal  whidi 
p*e  riae  to  the  many  ndneqoeot  imitatioat  in  Fteodi  proM,  anloTwliiA 
oar  Eofliih  metrical  romance  la  a  tranriation. 

Thit  poem,  in  line*  of  eight  lyllabln.is  to  be  fbond  entire  in  the  MSS. 
oF  the  Cotton  library,  (Galba.  E.  ii.),  when)  it  is  entitled,  "  The  Proces 
of  the  Seryn  Sages."  Mr.  Doace  had  coniectared  that  it  wai  oompoted 
■bout  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  centnry ;  bnt  there  is  in  the  Andiinlec^ 
MS.  a  large  fragment  of  it,  ooniisling  of  2630  linet,  and  at  its  compo- 
titioD  must  bSTe  preceded  the  tranacription,  and  the  age  oF  the  HS.  itadf 
baa  been  aaoertained  with  tome  aecnrai^,  we  cannot  aatign  to  the  poem  a 
.later  dote  than  1330, 

Soon  after  the  inTentionof  printing,  the  Latin  "  Hittorii  Septem 
Sapioitam"  appeaiad  in  Germany,  and  there  w«e  nuny  editiooa  of  it 
without  date,  place,  or  printer's  name.  The  earliest,  perhaps,  whii^occnrt 
with  a  date,  was  printed  at  Colc^iM  by  John  Hoelhafl;  in  1190,  quarto, 
with  cuts.  Tnuislationi  of  it  soon  tppeared  in  the  German,  Datch, 
Italian,  French,  Spanith,  and  English  langnoges.  This  it  our  "  Snot 
Win  Mattn,"  so  truly  delectable,  till  lately,  to  every  school-boy,  the  first 
edition  of  which  was  printed  by  W.  Copeland,  without  date,  bnt  betwnen 
1S48  and  1SG7.  It  was  also  tnntlated  into  Scottish  metre  by  John 
Holland,  in  Dalkdtb,  "  at  the  request  of  hit  Aitl  Coil  (Aont  Kste)  in 
Tanstellouu  Caitle,  during  the  tiege  of  Leith,  1560,"  and  printed  It 
Edinboigh  in  157S,  1592,  and  1631,  octam. 

'  (Eorret  de  Fauchet,  fo.  961. 


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410  UJU.T  XHSLiaH  XETBICAL   BOKUrCH. 

nwlut  Garepeui  iaita&m  al  ti>e  Beet  ^  tit  Bmtn  OmuiOento  be 
moitioned,  belongi  to  the  Italiana.  ind  ni  fint  jmnted  &t  HoDtoa,  154B, 
duodecimo,  under  the  titkof  "Eruto,  dt^po  mohi  lecoli  ritomito  il  fiae 
in  lux,  e  coo  ■ommi  dUigenia  dd  Greco  feddmcnte  tndattoiB  lt»liifi  " 
Tbii  «u  loon  tmulated  into  French,  tai  with  the  title  of  "  lliildil 


pitOTible  da  Prince  Erw 
ritalien  en  Fnn^i^"  p 


I,  ^1  de  Dioeletien,  i 


11  Fnn^ii,"  printod  at  Lyau  by  Oibiial  CaUer,  156ft,  ill  l>iii 
hueii  KirkioiD,  wdl  koown  bj  lii*  Dnmerow  tnoelaticiB*  of  nmiBen 
fotd  En^iih,  printed,  in  1674,  octavo,  ■  vernm  of  it  aoder  the  title  if 
"  Hiitorr  of  Prinoe  Enatu,  wm  to  the  Empcnx  DiooMiui,  and  Umim 
(unone  pbilowphan  called  The  Seren  Wiie  MaaCen  of  Haioe."  lie 
baualated  from  the  French  Eraatns,  and  t»jt  that  he  had  ceaapared  itwitfi 
the  Italian  orifpnal,  ud  added  all  that  had  beBB  writtan  in  gngll^li,  aMOk- 
Inc  1^  Seiea  Wiae  If  atten  ;  hot  hia  anertion  u  not  atrictljr  tioe,  m  he 
hu  omitted  two  or  three  itoriea  vfaiefa  are  ooalaiBed  in  the  lattv  «aA. 
He  tdla  ns,  in  hia  preface,  that  'im  book  of  1^  Serea  Wise  Maaten  i«  in 
inch  catimation  in  Inland,  that  it  waa  alwaja  pat  into  the  haada  of  jaaag 
(Uldren  iramedialelr  after  the  bom-book.    U  16M,  aDntbcT  odilian  of 

work.     Tliia  hat  ia,  howerer,  a  wntdwd  abaidgBeot. 

It  mar  ^  "ortfa  wbiie  to  mention  that  the  Itdim  wrtta  of  FraaW,  St 
)m  reall;  did  muaiilt  a  MS.  of  the  Graik  SfntifUL,  baa  tdia  lo  nn|' 
Ubertiea  with  it  that  big  work  by  no  maana  JMOrW  the  nwauof  atra>- 
latioa.  Hia  introdaction  ia  amndcrablr  more  diffbn  Dun  the  Oreak.  mi 
ha*  many  new  inodeota.  The  priaoB  it  cwMmiUM  to  the  caee  of  aBtai 
phlloiophara,  and  not  to  one  talor.  The  naae  of  Enataa,  aa  w«U  aa  than 
of  the  wiae  men,  ia  i|^a«uly  invented  fa-  tike  aole  putpoee  at  eoioaaiag 
tiie  aaiertion  in  the  title  and  prebea.  lleataiiei  nonntiadrtD  hdf  the 
■Hoiher  of  tboae  in  the  Syntipea,  in  whid  droamitiooe  it  afnea  vMh  the 
I^tin  Hittoria  S^itm  S^iimltiM;  and  fnaa  thia  it  ia  inort  pmh^d^ 

We  hem  thna  tmced  oar  original,  the  PiiaUn  of  SudAr,  ttatmf^ 
■n  it*  tianamigntioBa  In  the  EBropeaa  langsgs;  hot  If  the  riitr^ 
patience  be  not  qaite  eihaniited,  it  will  vow  be  prapcr  to  ntiaoe  ov 
■tepa,  for  the  puipoae  of  natidn;  aone  cirooaKtanoie  d 
Dot  a  little  to  embarraii  and  "■iiW^  the  n 


Inqairen  into  the  aubiaot. 
T(        ■     ■      ■ 


'owardi  the  eloae  of  the  fittMOth  oaDtary,  them  iMwd  from  the  ^Mtm 
■una  nnkaowB  Gecaan  prtater  a  angidnty  earioaa  book,  intilM 
Difeetoitam  HoMtana  Vilmt  aliaa,  Parabole  Aitfiqaoran  Sapienlv," 
tbt  It  wal  odM  '  Liber  JMito  «C 


t  oricinaU*  appealed  in  the  Indian  laagaagw, 
alalad  Mo  Ftnaan,  Anbie,  HdMew,  and  laidy  I 


The  Latin  ttaniblar  wm  John  of  Capoa,  who  liivd  abiat  ISM;  nd 

dlfcoagb  be  ha*  not  mpiiealj  meatiooed  from  what  laagaage  he  li^>- 
kted,  diere  is  iotamal  vrideKe  to  warrant  Ae  pttanaptaoa  lh«  he  «Mi 


lotdicr,  who  oompoeed  It  at  the  inetaaoe  of  a  kii^  of  India;  aad  llBtK 
/wf  in  generally  regarded  ai  the  aathor  of  the  Hebrew  nrnon,  from  wUd 
the  I^tin  ia  guppoaed  to  h«re  been  taken,    ^lia  odd  coincidence  wmld 


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TMTXODUCnoM  TO  THE   BETZK  «TflX  lUBTSBB.       411 

nttnnUj  lead  to  *  nippontion  Art  tbe  "  Directorimn"  wu  tiken  from 
tha  "HuoUe  Ssodabir;"  jet  it  ia  in  tacX  nothing:  mora  titan  an  tltccsd 
ImiiUtioii  of  •  worii  long  nnce  known  to  the  learned  b;  Oie  name  of 
CaKhi  ■  J>aiwiMjt,  and  to  Civ  irorld  in  general  b;  the  title  of  Filpar'a 
IkUn,  the  liidiaB  ariginal  of  wliidi  a  die  Htelopala  of  Vaeafanoo  Sanaa. 
It  k  not  caay  to  ucartvo  bjr  iriiat  duum  the  name  of  Sandabar  made 
it*  way  into  the  LUiD  "  Directoriuni."  It  certaialf  is  not  in  the  Heeto- 
pades,  where  the  name  of  tbe  Mge  who  relat<a  the  Moriea  ia  Teeshaoo 
Sarma ;  neltber  ia  it  Cram  tbe  other  Orieotai  Terdona  of  Hie  ame  work, 
beeaoae  in  the  PersiaB  and  TarkiA  eapiei  tbe  philoiophcr  ii  callnd 
Bidpay ;  and  in  the  Arabic,  or  at  leaM  in  die  Onek  vcmoo  ftam  tbe 
Aiabic,  nude  by  SinaoD  Beth,  B»d  printed,  with  a  I^alin  tzanriaUoB,  bj 
SCarkini  in  1697,  he  is  not  naaied  at  alL  Neitber  doea  there  ieem  to  be 
(ny  potdtiTe  aathority  for  aacribing  a  Hebrew  tranaladon  of  thii  work  to 
Rabbi  Joel,  excepting  that  of  Doni,   the  repnted  anthoc  of  an   Italian 

hKrodnoed  the  name  of  Joel,  inferritig.  peiiiqia,  that  be  mmt  Iutb  tnaa> 
kted  tbli  wot,  aa  well  ai  tbe  HiacUe,  ai  being  >1m  cooqioeed  by  San- 
4abar. 

Another  source  of  coofnaion  and  perplexity  aiiaea  from  die  perrerte 
ffiapoaitioD  of  aD  the  tnmlaton  or  imitaton  of  the  Book  of  "  tbe  Seren 
Connacllan"  to  alter  and  diaflgnre,  ttiongti  petiiapB  with  the  hope  of 
topriTriiig,  their  inraeifiaCe  original.  Tbe  leTEral  oopiea  tbarelbre  are  as 
mck  ^like,  that  only  aaa  ttory  in  die  modem  EnotBi  agrae*  wilk  Ae 
Omk  Syntipaa,  and  tUa  ia  also  to  be  fbandiD  Ifae  CkUlab  n  Damn^ 
(See  Tyrwbttt,  voL  ii.  p.  492, 4to.  edit)  Some  atoriea  in  tbe  Doh^iatM 
an  common  tn  tbe  Fi£l«a  of  Al&oaoa,  wlio,  aa  the  otber  baod,  hn  one 
tile  which  is  also  In  tbe  Syntipaa.  It  ia  not,  ttweBge,  a  mora  nnulsrilj 
in  aome  of  tbe  ToateiiA  which  will  enable  HI  to  trace  the  noeeMiTe  imttr 
tioDS  of  fte  Orisntil  **"»tti  to  dieir  origind  prutiri^ye;  we  an  (broed  te 
•camiae  tte  gaoeral  daaicn  asd  ontlme  of  tbe  work ;  end  after  haring  done 
te,  it  will  bnt  too  franuody  happen  tliat  the  pUieat  labour  of  tbe  anttr 
ipury  ia  prodoctiva  of  little  amaaemenl;  to  the  isuler. 

It  onlyremuni  to  be  stated,  ttiat  the  foUowrng  abatiact  ia  generally 
taken  from  the  fragment  in  the  Auchinleck  M8.,  la  bdng  the  moM 
anciait  oopj  now  known  to  eijrt,  and  thM  the  eoBolndDO  baa  been  made 
•Kp  from  tbe  MS.  ia  the  Cotton  Library  already  mnlianad.  nielaUerM 
eertainly  more  modem,  by  at  least  half  a  omtary.  Dam  the  tinjilpTjA 
ii^nient,  and  ia  writton  ia  the  Scottiah  dialect.' 

■  A  mry  nlaable  MB.  of  thia  ronnee  fa  praaar*«d  hi  the  Potdh: 
library  t  Cambridge,  and  wm  priated  by  Mr.  Wri^  fw  the  Tmej 
SodMj,  184S.  Hr.  Wngfat'i  intensting  Prebee  will  tbnfak  the  reada- 
with  many  corioni  poiticQlBia  respecting  tbe  romance  not  known  to  EUis. 
The  Cattoman  MS.  bM  bem  pnbliahed  bj  Vebv. 


giiizcdt*  Google 


THE  SEVEN  WISE  MASTERS. 


DiocLBTUK,  etnpciDT  of  Rome,  had  a  eon  nAmed  P^ilMTOlj^ 
vho,  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  engroBsed  his  fether'a 
whole  ftflfection.  For  the  purpose  of  giving  a  suitable  educa- 
tion to  this  darling  Bon,  the  emperrar  convened  all  the  wisest 
and  most  learned  men  in  the  empire,  from  whom  he  selected 
;eeren  masters,  each  of  whom  was  directed  to  instruct  the 
^onth  in  one  of  the  seven  liberal  arts.  The  sages  accepted 
the  honourable  task  with  gratitude ;  and  having  first  retired 
with  their  pupil  to  the  Conaistory,  which,  says  our  author,  was 
a  place  in  Borne  whero  "  men  makes  wisdom,"  they  decided 
that  it  would  he  necessary  to  rranove  the  youth  from  the 
enticements  of  the  metropolis,  and  to  erect  a  building,  for 
the  better  mvsecution  of  his  studies,  at  some  distauce  &om 
the  city.  The  spot  selected  for  the  purpose  was  a  spacious 
verger  (orchard)  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber,  already  planted 
witii  all  sorts  of  fruit-trees.  In  its  centre  they  built  an  edifice, 
consisting  of  seven  chambers,  encompassing  a  vast  square 
hall,  on  me  walls  of  which  were  painted  the  three  parts  of 
DoneP,  and  the  seven  arts,  viz.,  grammar,  music,  astronomy, 
geometry,  arithmetic,  rhetoric,  and  physic.  Here  the  young 
man,  occupied  only  with  his  studies,  and  constantly  trans- 
ferred from  one  master  to  anothra",  made  a  most  rapid  prO' 
gresB.  In  the  fourth  vear  of  his  education  he  began  to 
dispute  on  l<^cal  questions;  in  the  fifth  year  he  was  able  "to 
tufjument  of  the  stais  and  <^  the  firmament;"  and  before  the 
vsoA  of  the  sixth  year,  he  evinced  a  degree  of  acut^iese  which, 
not  without  reason,  was  considered  by  the  wise  men  as  truly 
miraculous. 

With  a  view  to  ascertain  the  degree  of  his  advancement  in 
^neral  science,  they  one  night  secretly  placed  under  each 
of  the  four  posts  of  his  bed  four  ivy-leavea,  and,  having  per- 
formed the  experiment,  retired  without  awakening  him.  In 
the  morning,  when  they  attended  hint  og  usual,  he  no  sooner 
opened  his  eyes  than  he  began  to  survey  the  wlwle  room  with 
evident  signs  of  astonishment,  and  on  ^eir  inquiring  into  the 
cause  of  ms  surprise, 

"Par  fiiy!"  he  said  "a  ferli"  cos! 
Other*  ich  am  of  wine  drunk. 
Other  the  firmament  is  sunk, 

■  The  work)  of  Donatm  tbe  grammtriaD.    ■  WoDderfii].    ■  Either. 


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THE  8ETEH  WIBS  MiSTEBV.  413 

Other  wexen  is  the  ground' 

The  thickness  of  four  leaves  round  I 

So  much,  to  night,  higher  I  lay, 

Certe«,  than  j^aterdajr." 
TTia  reader  will  readily  t>elieve  diat  before  the  expiration 
of  Mb  sevens  yean'  study,  this  prodigy  of  attention  had  ac- 
quired all  the  science  of  his  Seven  Wise  Mastera. 

Diocletian,  perfectly  happy  in  ench  a  son,  had  hitherto 
borne  without  repining  the  solitude  of  widowhood ;  but  his 
ocnuueUorB  now  lu^ed  him  to  marry  again,  and  proposed  to 
him  a  young  princess  of  such  exquisite  beauty  diat  the  old 
monarch  became  violently  enamoured  of  her,  and  soon  ap- 
peared to  foi^t,  in  her  company,  every  other  object  of  his 
auction.  So  completely  were  ^e  perfections  of  Florentin 
obliterated  from  his  memory,  that  he  did  not  even  mention 
hia  name  to  the  empress;  but  as  every  other  tongue  was 
employed  in  his  praise,  she  naturally  became  anxious  to 
b^ld  this  paragon,  and  had  no  difficulty  in  persuading  the 
emperor  to  summon  him  to  court. 

The  Seven  Masteo^  were  "  disputing  in  their  Latin"  with 
their  young  pupil,  when  they  received  the  visit  of  the  nobles 
appointed  to  signify  the  emperor's  intention,  and  to  attend 
the  young  prince  during  hia  solemn  entry  into  Bome:  and  as 
the  preparations  for  such  a  ceremony  could  not  be  suddenly 
completed,  the  imperial  messengers  were  detained  to  dinner, 
and  amused  by  the  tales  of  minstrela ;  after  which  the  Seven 
Wise  Hen  prepared  to  consult  the  stars,  as  a  necessary  pre- 
liminary to  the  important  expedition  of  the  following  day. 
Caton,  tiie  most  expert  of  the  seven,  took  a  very  deliberate 
survey  of  the  moon,  and  discovered,  from  some  untoward  ■ 
appearances  on  the  bee  of  that  planet,  that  the  first  moment 
when  the  young  prince,  alter  his  arrival  at  court,  should  open 
his  Ups,  would  prove  fiital  to  him,  and,  very  possibly,  to  aD 
his  instructors.  This  dreadful  prophecy  filled  the  whole 
ovtu'pKDj  with  consternation ;  but  though  Caton  could  not  be 
suspected  of  &lsifylng  or  misunderstanding  the  moon'a  testi- 
mony, Florentin  chose  to  examine  the  heavens  in  his  turn; 
and  luiving  critically  observed  the  aspect  of  a  star  almost  ia 
contact  with  the  moon's  limb,  [H^dicted  from  H,  that  if  he 
eould  preserve  his  life  during  ecven  days,  and  pass  that  time 
without  qieoking,  the  danger  which  menaced  him  would  be 
1  Or  imni  ii  the  CMtb. 

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414  BIBLT  SSOLUH  MXTSIO^I.  BOMAITCXS. 

pused,  and    he  migbt  ex.pect  many  yeonb  of  secon^  and 

lliu  second  prediotiDa  faaraig  been  duly  ex&miiied,  and 
found  conformable  to  all  tbe  rules  of  aeXnUogj,  tl\e  Seven 
Wise  Maaten  took  comfort;  and  as  &ax  papl  ohetxveA  to 
a^m.  that  it  vould  be  most  extraordinary  if  each  of  iheai 
were  not  able  to  Mre  hia  life  dniing  a  aingle  day,  they  pre- 
pared to  encounter  the  approBchuig  danger  widi  aersnity, 
returned  to  their  gocats,  and  next  day  accompanied  them  to 
oonrt,  where  Florentin  was  received  hy  hia  fitiher  with  evety 
mark  of  a£fecfian,  Diocletian,  drowned  in  teaia  of  joy,  was 
himaelf  nnable  to  ^eak,  and  conae^iently  did  not  remark 
the  silence  of  the  youth,  who  expressed  also  l^  his  teaia  aod 
embraces  the  sLoserity  of  bis  filial  duly ;  besides  whidft,  their 
interview  was  only  momentary,  aa  the '  emjureaa,  on  hearing 
qC  FloreatiD'a  amval,  immediately  reqn^ded  hia  aUendanee 
in  her  own  apartment. 

Of  the  m^ital  periectiona  of  her  son-in-law  she  had  heard 
so  much  that  her  curicpity  was  completely  sadafied,  but  of 
Ilia  person  she  knew  nothing ;  and  thia  produced  at  first  eight 
ao  deep  an  impression  ^%her  mind,  that  not  being  in  the 
habit  of  curbing  her  passions,  she .  immediately  ordered  hta 
attendants  out  tu  the  room,  and  proceeded, without  reserve  to 
Gommnnicate  to  the  astouiahed  Florentin  the'  frTlintrrr  which 
he  had  awakened,  and  the  fecHities  which  her  mama^  with 
his  father  mi^it  afibrd  for  their  gratificatiou.  Her  eloquence 
<Ki  this  topic  waa  so  r^id  and  abundant  that  it  was  long 
before  she  gave  the  prince  an  oppt^tmu^  of  making  any 
reply,  but  at  length  she  naturally  began  to  expect  an  answer, 
and  was  not  a  little  astoniahed  at  hia  invincibfe  silence.  She 
flattered  herself  with  the  hope  that  this  might  arise  Irom. 
mere  bashfulness  and  timidity,  and  proceeded  to  tjy  every 
mode  of  encooraKement;  but  ber  aiieiit  companion  recoiled 
flnm  her  touch  with  such  signs  of  honor,  that  she  eould  not 
long  doubt  of  hia  conten^)t  and  aveimon. 

Then  the  enmress  wex  wroth; 

She  tare  her  hair  and  her  cloth. 

Her  kirtel,  her  pilche'  of  ermine. 

Her  kercheib  of  silk,  her  smock  oS  line,* 

Ail  tc^ether,  with  both  fist, 

E9h  to-rent  benesthen  her  breast 
1 A  Idnd  of  buTod  cloak.  ■  linou 


j„.„^L,  Google 


TXB  SZVBN  WISX  lUftTSKO.  415 

Wilh  botL  facmden  her  }«1Idw  hair 

Out  of  trcases  she  it  tare; 

And  she  tt»-«eimtched  her  viflBge, 

Andemdde'  "harow"  with  great  nge. 

In  hcill  was  the  emperour. 
"  Who  hath  thee  done  thia  diahanoat?" 
"  Bot'  thi«  devil  that  here  ii, 

Had  me  neai  y-hooiabt*  ir-wis!" 
She  then  ptrooceded  to  state  that  the  nutrks  of  violence 
ahout  her  peison.  were  the  eflbcte  of  hie  IvatBl  rage,  and  loudly 
demanded  the  iuetant  death  of  the  ranaher. 

Am  the  youth  and  beauty  of  the  emprees  gaire  some  d^ree 
ot  probability  to  this  horrible  acciuatioa,  and  the  supposed 
eu^rit  continued  obstinately  silent,  the  indtgaont  emperoc 
immediately  gave  wders  that  hia  unoatural  aon  idiould  be 
stiipped  and  icoiuf^ed,  and  afterwards  hanged:  but  no  sooner 
yrete  these  orders  nude  pubhc,  than  the  loids  -who  wet«  thea 
in  the  palaoe  iutoposed  to  prevent  their  execntiQa,  and  ob- 
tained fiom  the  rehictant  Diocletian  a  promiae,  that  the  heir 
of  the  empire  dionld  be  exeii^)ted  fram  this  ignominioua 
punishment  until  he  should  have  been  bded  before  an  as- 
sembly of  the  nobles.'  The  court  was  therefore  summooed 
Sx  the  succeeding  day;  and  the  prince,  in  the  mean  time, 
was  ordered  into  aoeo  confinement. 

lliie  delay  was  by  no  means  pleasing  to  the  empress.  Hie 
jinmh  TTurn  mi^t  ehftiiffe  his  mind  and  speak  in  tn'g  turn ;  and 
his  assereiabcHiB  were  more  likely  than  her  own  to  be  credited 
l^  his  judgea,  amongst  whom  lus  rank  and  his  virtues  had 
inocured  him  many  partisans.  It  would  save  her  much  tjou- 
ble  if  ^  could  persuade  the  emperor  to  act  from  himself; 
and  for  this  purpose,  when  he  came  to  bed  at  night,  she  told 
hiiB  the  story  (rf 

THE  PIKKOTE-TBEB  XNO  ITS  IKP. 

"nien  WW  once  at  Rome  a  bui^eaa,  ^rbo,  hanng  ""•ii-h*^ 

>  Cried.  *  Vfho  but.  ■  Bronght  Id  ■hmiE,  fr. 

*  A  aipr  "f  tliii  EODunn!  in  MS.  Cutab.  F(.  ii.  3B,  tell*  the  tab 
somewhat  difitxeoClj.  According  to  tluC  authorltj,  tlw  king  goei  "to 
lijs  ttnm"  bll  hit  anger  ii  ■omevlut  abated,  when  his  itBinrd  arrive* 
•nd  remind!  him  of  a  promin  he  had  made  to  gisnt  tum  hi>  first  requeit 
in  ooasidentkin  of  Inoata  dona  b  «Br.  The  atonrd  then.  leqwated  that 
the  tiJB  of  the  pcinae  ibonld  be  apared  (or  raw  d^. 


..Cookie 


416  KiSLT  motun  hetsicai  xoiujtces. 

himself  by  traffic,  poitJuwed  a  handsome  house  with  a  fiur 
garden  adjoining. 

Full  of  apple-trees  and  of  peny, 

Fowles  stisE  tfaerin  merry. 

Amidelwara'  that  garden  free. 

So  wox  a  pinnote*  tree. 

That  had  fair  bongbs  and  fhiit, 

There-imder  was  all  his  dedut.' 

He  made  there-nnder  a  green  bendi, 

And  drank  t^iere-iiiider  many  a  sken^.* 

Certea,  therein  mts  all  his  playing. 

In  time  of  solace  and  bis  resting. 
As  the  whole  sphere  of  the  burgess's  observation  was  con- 
fined within  this  single  arbour,  he'  could  not  &il  of  discorering 
a  small  tn^  (sucker)  which  was  at  length  put  out  from  &c 
root  He  watched  this  imp  with  daily  attention;  but  as  its 
growth  was  much  slower  than  he  wi^ed,  he  called  his  gar- 
dener and  inquired  why  the  imp  did  not  grow  frsl^?  The 
man  replied,  mat  being  overshadowed  by  a  large  branch  of 
the  parent  tree,  it  did  not  obtain  its  due  shaic  of  light  and 
moisture.  The  burgess  now  ordered  the  branch  to  be  cut 
away;  and  lfae^|Ker  having  rapidly  increased  after  thia  ex- 
periment, a  second  and  a  third  lu'anch  which  interfered  with 
its  prioress  were  successively  sacrificed  to  it,  nntil  its  luxu- 
riance and  the  abundance  of  its  foliage  formed  a  strikii^ 
contrast  to  the  naked  and  unsightly  appearance  of  its  once 
flourishing  parent.  At  length  ue  burgess  became  disgusted 
with  his  original  favourite,  and  caused  it  to  be  cot  down,  lest 
the  small  quantity  of  nourishment  which  it  still  continued  to 
derive  from  the  soil  should  in  future  impoverish  its  rival. 
"  Such,  sir,"  said  the  empress,  "  will  shortly  be  your  &te. 
You  are  the  old  tree,  and  Plorenti^  it  iLc  imp,  which,  long 
fbstercd  imder  your  shade,  now  git*B  with  luxuriance,  and 
only  wants  room  for  more  expansion.  He  has  once  set  you 
at  defiance,  and  lives  to  glory  inJiis  crime.  Vengetmce,  per- 
haps, is  still  in  your  power,  but  if  deferred,  the  means  of 
inflictmg  it  will  be  lost,  and  you  will  be  shoved  from  the 
throne  to  make  room  for  the  more  powerful  Florentin." 
Diocletian  loved  a  story  to  bis  heart;  and  though,  during  its 
1  Id  the  middle  of. 
■  "  Tbs  tame  of  b  red-stacked  mi  round-leaTed  Tine." — Cotg  an, 
•  Plomre;  deliglit.  A.  N.  *  Draught. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


TBI   BKTEN  WISE  M^BTBBS.  417 

recital,  incapable  of  discerning  iU  application,  was  marvel' 
lousljr  etruck  when  this  application  was  explained  to  him. 


He  had  been  long  aconatomed  to  reign,  and  was  fit  for  little 
else;  so  that  being  now  induced  to  consideT  hie  son  as  a  rival, 
he  determined  meet  firmly  to  order  his  immediate  death,  and 
flattered  himself  that  the  justice  of  the  action  would  be  ap- 
plauded by  all  who  should  hear  the  storyi  of  the  Pinnote-tree 
and  of  its  Imp. 

The  ball  was  already  filled  with  barons  and  with  persons  of 
all  ranks,  when  the  emperor  took  his  seat,  and  r^raatcd  his 
orders  of  the  preceding  day.  The  prince  was  taken  out  of 
prison,  led  naked  through  the  hall,  and  conveyed  towards  the 
place  of  execution  amidst  the  uniTersal  murmurs  of  the  senate 
and  people;  but  the  youth  himself  continued  obstinntely 
alent,  and  no  one  appeared  to  plead  his  cause,  till  the  philo- 
sopher Bancilias,  malong  his  way  through  the  assembly,  and 
approaching  the  throne,  began  to  remonstrate  with  the  em- 
peror on  hjs  injustice  and  cruelty.  Diocletian  was  at  this 
time  very  much  out  of  humour,  and  answered  the  polite  salu- 
tation of  the  Wise  Master,  "  Dai  wna  doint  bon  Jour,"  h^ 
imprecating  all  sorts  of  curses  on  his  head  and  on  those  of  lus 
six  ctmipanions,  who,  being  selected  to  e^cate  the  heir  of 
the  empire,  had  taken  from  him  the  use  of  his  tongue,  and 
bestowed  on  him  in  return  a  most  ungovernable  propensity  to 
rape  and  incest.  Bancilias,  in  reply,  asserted  Horentin's  " 
innocence ;  earnestly  conjured  the  emperor  to  disbelieve  the 
testimony  of  a  step-moUier,  and  fiiully  assured  him,  that 
ahoqld  he  sacrifice  nis  son  he  would  be  tortured  by  unn^ling 
remorse,  as  was  the  knight  for  the  loss  of  bis  good  grey- 
hound. At'  these  words  the  emperor  eagerly  requested  to 
hear  the  story;  but  the  stubbofn^ilosopher  rc&sed  to  relate 
one  word  until  he  should  have  Obtemed  a  day's  respite  for  the 
prince,  which  being  reluctantly  granted,  ia  proceeded  with 
ois  nanative. 

TBS  KHIOHT  AITS  HIS   Qltn'-HOTrKIt. 

Sire,  there  was  formerly  celebrated  in  this  city,  on  the  day 

(^the  Holy  Trini^,  a  magnificent  tournament;  and  the  lists, 

which  attracted  from  all  quartets, a  crowd  of  noble  compe- 

"^  titoia,  were  erected  in  a  pleasant  and  s^ious  meadow  at  no 

great  distance.    In  this  meadow  the  km^t,  whose  adventnte 

2  X 

i  D,j„.„^.,  Cookie 


418  XABLT   XNfiUSH   XXTBIOiU.  KOHIXCEB. 

I  KB  «bottt  to  rdate,  had  an  <dd  raaoor-bouae,  aumnstdadan 
all  aidea  b^  a  liver 

Of  chamben,  and  of  high  hall. 
Of  old  work,  ibr<onaed'  all. 
He  had  alao  a  beautifiit  wiiaj  an  mfant  child  'n^tm  he 
idoUaed;  and  a  frrey-liound  whoM  gagacdt^  amTcovnage  wan 
usparaUeled.     The  child  wa«  attended  by  three  nmraea,  tike 
firat  c^  whom  was  employed  to  suckle  him,  whilst  tbe  a&er 
tvo  were  ordered  to  relieve  each  other  in  watcJiing  him, 
iritetber  sleeping  or  waking,  with  constant  aasidnity. 
Ob  the  oceasJon  of  this  tournament, 

Hie  knight  was  lopen*  on  his  steed. 

And  armed  well  in  iron  weed;' 

mie  shield  about  his  neck,  the  spear  in  his  bend. 

And  burdised  *  with  the  tnightes  of  the  lond. 


was  BO  near  as  to  afibrd  a  tolerable  view  of  the  a 
all  the  serrants,  and  even  the  three  nurses,  were  eagw  to 
gratify  their  curiosity,  and  the  child  was  left  in  its  cradle, 
close  to  tlie  wall  of  the  house,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  was 
cracked  through  in  many  places. 

In  one  of  these  creviees  was  lodged  a  huge  adder,  wUeh 
beiiffi  disturbed  by  the  unusual  shouts  of  the  servants,  excited 
by  the  various  exploits  at  the  tournament,  put  out  its  head, 
and  at  length  creeping  from  its  hole,  advanced  towards  Hx 


cradle. 


The  grey-hound  seeth  the  adder  red, 
Orislich,  rough,  strong,  and  qued;' 
Anon  he  gan  her  assail. 
And  hent'  her  in  his  mouth  sans  &iL 
He  adder  so  the  grey-hound  stang. 
And  he  feelcd  the  bite  so  Strang, 
Anon  he  let  the  adder  gon: 
Upon  the  cradle  she  flew  anon. 
And  was  about  tlie  child  to  sting; 
And  the  gi«y-hound  came  yem  flinging,' 
And  hent  the  adder  in  strong  gear,' 
And  flapped  her  all  about  his  ear. 


^CngU.         f  QnkUj  booodinK. 


j„..;uL,Coo^k"- 


THZ  BETXK  WUB  KASTXXS.  419 

Between  the  odder  and  the  grey-hound, 

Hie  ci«dle  turned  up  so  down''  on  gnMiid; 

Vv  so  down,  in  her  fighting. 

That  the  child  1^  dwellmg. 

Tbe  Btaplea  it  upbdd  all  qnert,' 

That  the  child  was  nou^  y-hurt. 

The  adder  oo  the  grey-hotmd  bot 

By  the  side,  God  it  wot. 

He  cried,  and  on  the  cradle  ktp. 

And  bled  thereon  a  well  great  heap; 

And  when  tbe  smart  was  all  y-gme. 

To  that  adder  he  sterte  anon. 

And  by  the  body  he  her  hent, 

And  all  to  pieces  her  to-renL 

"^^  grey-hound  would  not  ceased  fae, 

Tell  that  adder  ware  torn  of  three;' 

And  all  the  place  then  about 

Was  well  bloody  withouten  doubt, 
lite  tournament  being  over,  the  spectaton  began  ta  nlire, 
and  the  nurses  hastened  to  resume  their  charge;  but  .they 
beheld  the  cradle  overturned  and  coveied  with  bload,  end  tbt 
grey-hound  bleenling,  and  whining  from  the  pain  of  las 
wounds.  Without  examining  any  further,  they  concluded 
that  the  dog  was  guilty,  and  rushing  out  of  the  house  ran  to 
meet  their  mistress,  to  whom  they  impudently  protested,  that 
the  grn-hound,  in  a  fit  of  sudden  fsroci^,  had,  in  spile  of  all 
their  efforts,  torn  to  pieeee  die  charming  in&nt. 

Tlie  lady  fbll  into  a  swoon,  and  on  her  recovenr  adopted  at 
<mce  tbe  &lse  report  of  her  nnrsee,  related  it  to  tne  bugbt  <m 
his  letam,  end  swote,  with  tmrmts  of  tean,  that  untesa  be 
would  instantly  rerenge  her  t^  the  deelmotian  of  his  &Tani- 
ite,  rfie  would,  before  his  own  eyes,  put  an  end  to  his  own 
existence.  The  disconsolate  fether  spoke  not  a  word,  but 
lushed  into  the  hall ;  and  whilst  the  fiiithful  grey-hound  feeb^ 
crawled  to  meet  him  and  to  liok  his  hand,  clove  the  amnutl  in 
two  with  his  sword.  He  then  approached  the  eradk  to  bahtdd 
tot  tile  last  time  his  murdered  in&nt,  and  having  tuned  Vf 
tte  clothes,  saw  with  astonishment  and  deli^^t  the  child  in 
perfect  health,  and  jnst  waking  from  the  slumbers  yrhai^  ths 
jvecediug  accident  had  not  intarrupted.  By  the  aide  of  "An 
tvadle  lay  the  fragments  of  tlw  oeipent,  and  the  whole  Uila 
<  Uptide  down.         ■  B^^.         *  Into  thn*  pwti  «r  pissts. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


430  XASLT  ZVOLISH  KKTBTCAX  BOMAKOXS. 

hf  which  he  had  been  deceived  was  instantly  explained. 
His  conscience  smote  hiio.  He  would  not  atuui  his  sword 
with  the  blood  of  the  wretches  through  whose  means  he  had 
murdered  the  dehTerer  of  his  chUd,  but  he  vowed  to  expiate,  by 
a  penance  which  should  only  terminate  with  his  life,  his  own 
£>Uy  in  listenins  to  the  counsels  of  a  heedless  and  inconsider- 
ate woman.  He  rushed  into  the  woods,  retired  to  a  distant 
hermitage,  and  never  more  returned  to  the  habitations  of 
men.  Such,  sire,  will  be  your  remorse  and  repentance,  if  yon 
blindly  detenninc  on  the  destmctioa  of  your  amiable  son  at 
the  iiutigation  of  his  &Ise  and  Wliciooa  step-mother. 

Diocletian,  who  generally  provided  himself  with  opinions 
1^  adopting  those  of  the  lost  speaker,  now  deckred  his  adhe- 
rence to  the  aentimeute  of  Bancillas,  and  totally  forgot  his 
oompoaaion  for  the  misfortunes  of  the  old  piimote-ttee,  in  his 
tenderness  for  the  good  knight,  whom  he  resembled  in  a 
warm  affection  for  grey-hounds.  But  at  length  the  night 
came,  and  with  it  came  the  reproaches  of  the  empreas ;  who 
taxed  him  with  wanLof-rwolution,  and  with  an  eitremejove 
of  fiattery,  hy  which  she  assured  him  that  he  would  be  be- 
trayed as  the  boor  was  by  the  herdsman.  This  allusion  effec- 
tuidly  awakened  his  curiosity,  and  she  proceeded  to  tell  him 
thoatory  of 

THE    BOAB    AITD    THB    SBaDSlU.N'. 

To  the  westward  of  this  city  is  a  spacious  toreat,  formerly 
the  abode  of  a  h<^,  who,  from  his  amazing  size  and  supposed 
^stodtv,  was  the  terror  of  the  whole  neighbourhood.  In  the 
same  foreet  Kved  a  herdsman  who  tended  a  large  herd  of 
cattle;  but  as  they  usually  pastured  in  the  open  ports  of  liLS 
wood,  he  never  approached  the  haunts  of  this  terrible  animal. 
But  it  happened  one  day  that  a  part  of  his  herd  had  strayed 
to  some  distance,  and  it  became  necessary  that  he  should 
fbllow  them.  In  the  couise  of  his  search  he  discovered  a 
hawlhom-tsree,  the  fruit  of  which  was  then  ripe,  and  seeing 
great  quantibea  of  it  on  the  ground,  could  not  re&ain  from 
ttap^ag  to  fill  his  pockets.  He  did  so,  and  was  Koing  to 
d^ut,  when  he  diocovered  the  boar,  who  came  straignt  up  to 
the  nme  bee,  under  which  he  had*  for  many  preceding  daya 
found  a  plentiful  repast.  Hie  poor  herdsman  was  haff  dead 
with  fear;  but  to  fly  was  hopeless,  and  his  only  resource  wma 
to  oUmb  up  iota  the  tree,  where  he  hoped  to  remain  nndiaoo- 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


THE  SEVEN  VISE  XUIEBS.  431 

vered.  Unlncldly  the  boar,  after  devouring  the  scanty  g^lean* 
ings  which  had  been  left  under  the  tree,  happened  to  ecent 
the  ample  stoies  contained  in  the  man's  pockets,  and  being  dis- 
appointed in  his  attempts  to  reach  the  preciom  magazine, 
became  ftmotu  with  rage,  foamed  at  the  mouth,  and  whetting 
his  tusks  gainst  the  roots  of  the  tree,  shook  it  with  mch 
violence  that  the  poor  herdsman  considered  his  destruction  aa 
inevitable.  In  this  extremity  he  fortunately  bethought  him- 
self of  emptying  his  pockets ;  and  at  tliB  same  time  gathering 
«11  the  haws  within  his  reach,  showered  them  down  so  profiuely 
that  the  boor  was  satisfied,  and  after  a  plentiful  dinner  appeared 
disposed  to  take  his  rest.  The  artful  herdsman  now  lowered 
himself  so  far  as  to  reach  with  his  fingera  the  back  of  the 
animal,  which  he  b^an  to  scratch  with  such  dcst«rity  that 
the  boar,  who  was  hitherto  unaccustomed  to  such  luxury 
dosed  his  eyes,  and  abandoned  himself  to  the  most  delicious 
slumbers;  at  which  instant  the  herdsman  drawing  a  long 
knife,  with  which  he  was  provided,  suddenly  pierced  him  to 
the  heart  Su(^,  sir  emperor,  are  the  artifices  of  vour  flat- 
terers ;  they  please  and  tickle  your  ears  with  their  praises. 
but  it  is  that  they  may  lull  you  to  sleep  and  etab  you  with 
more  security. 

The  emperor,  not  choosing  to  die  like  a  boar,  now  deter- 
mined as  usual  to  put  his  son  to  death,  but  was  diverted  fVom 
his  purpose  by  the  wise  master  Ancilles,  who  having  obtained 
a  day's  respite  for  the  prince,  proceeded  to  relate  the  follow- 
ing atoiy  of 

EIFFOCEATEB  1.ND   HIS   NEPHEW. 

Your  m^'esty  knows  that^HjppoctateB,  "  The  Wise  Clerk," 
was  fbrmerly  professor  ofmedisiiieJn  this  city.  Ho  had  with 
faim  a  nephew  whom  lie  wished  to  instruct  in  his  art,  and  to 
whom  he  communicated  all  his  secrets ;  but,  after  a  time,  the 
uncommon  sagacity  of  the  pupil  began  to  awaken  the  jealousy 
and  envy  of  the  preceptor,  who  had  meant  to  form  an  assistant 
in  his  practice,  not  a  rival  of  his  reputation.  The  irritation  of 
temper  produced  in  the  sage  by  these  unworthy  sentiments 

Sreycd  on  his  health  and  occasioned  a  dangerous  diseaae, 
uring  the  height  of  whicl^  he  received  a  message  from  the 
king  of  Hungary  requesting  his  attendance  on  the  heir  of 
that  kingdom,  who  was  now  supposed  to  be  on  the  point  of 
isa^L    Hippocrates,  though  macb  against  his  wQl,  was  now 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


422  BABLT   KlfOLItH  MSTBICAJ.  £OXANC£S. 

oonpdled.  to  employ  his  nephew,  though  he  forcMW  that  tho 
&■»  of  tbe  7OU1W  man,  if  Buocewfiil,  would  be  elevated  vwj 
omAv  to  the  level  of  hii  own.  The  youi^  proctdlioner  imme- 
diatsly  d(^»rt«d  for  Hungary, 

And  when  he  come  to  that  land, 

Hie  king  took  him  by  the  faond. 

And  led  him  to  his  iick  child; 
"  Saw  Christ  of  hearen  be  na  mildl" 


He  taketh  an  oiinal  for  to  seen; 

He  ne  se^  nonfat  of  the  king,  but  of  the  qaeat : 

And  of  the  child,  Ood  it  wote. 

He  aegh  it  waa  a  mJsb^te.* 

He  gas  the  leredi  aside  3nv, 
and  closely  questioned  her  concerning  the  &ther  of  the  in- 
ralid,  vho,  he  vras  positively  certain,  'wan  by  no  means 
related  to  the  king  of  Hungary.  I^e  qneen,  afitonished  at 
this  unexpected  question,  bt^on  by  treating  it  with  levity, 
and  when  he  persisted,  threatened  him  with  punishment  for 
his  insolence;  but  on  his  assuring  her  that  he  was  unable  to 
cure  her  child  without  the  disclosure  of  this  important  secret, 
and  that  she  might  rest  assured  of  bis  inviolable  fideli^,  she 
looked  on  him  with  astonishment,  burst  into  tears,  and  con- 
fessed that  a  certain  earl  of  Navarre,  who  had  sojourned  for 
some  time  at  her  husband's  court,  and  who  was  very  sell 
made  and  well  dressed,  had  pleased  her  so  much  par  grel 
dnierie  she  sometimes  indulged  him  with  liberties  which  had 
E^jrarently  led  to  the  birth  of  her  dear  child. 

The  young  physician  now  informed  her  that  the  boy,  being 
illegitiuiato,  would  require  "  contrarious  drink,  oontrarious 
meat;"  that  he  must  be  fed  on  "  beeves'  fiesh,  and  drink  the 
broth,"  and  this  diet  being  plentifully  administered  to  the 
patient,  he  rapidly  recovered:  and  the  young  leech  was  dis- 
missed with  the  most  magnificent  presents,  and  with  the  be- 
nedictions of  the  queen  and  her  husband. 

Hippocrates,  on  his  nephew's  return,  inquired  into  all  that 
pMsedj 

He  asked  gif  that  the  child  was  sound; 
"  Yea  sire,"  he  said,  "  by  Saint  Simound!" 


uL,  Cookie 


m  SZTXIT  WIVE  lUSTXSS.  433 

H«  naked,  "■WTwt  was  his  medicine?" 
"Beef  oad  broth  good  a  fine. "' 
"What  then,  wm  he  an  aTetrol?"' 
**  Tbon  ttyest  sooth,  sir,  by  my  pell!  "* 
Qnath  Ypooraa,  "  By  the  God's  doom, 
liou  art  become  all  too  wise  a  groom!" 
Hicre  he  thought,  gainst  reasoan. 
To  do  him  etrong  treasoun. 
The  acoompliahment  of  the  crime  booh  followed.    One  day 
tkit  ihvj  Knre  walkii^  in  their  garden,  and  disconraing  <m 
tfae  vktaes  of  the  plants  cultivated  in  it,  Hippocrates  pointed 
ont  t»  his  nephew  a  small  herb  which  he  desired  him  to 
geAer,  and,  milat  the  youth  stooped  for  that  ptm)ose,  drew 
out  ■  dagger  sad  stabbed  him.     He  then  buried  the  body  on 
the  tpot,  ifitomed  into  the  house,  and  enjoyed  the  malignant 
pleaanre  <rf  burning  the  booka  to  which  the  young  man  was 
udabted  for  his  wonderM  adranccment  in  science.     But  the 
Tm^oance  of  Heaven  doeely  pursued  him.     He  was  seieed 
irilh  a  HMMson  (dysentery),  a  disease  in  the  cure  of  which  hit 
aqphew  was  always  particularly  successful,  and  being  nnaUe 
to  aneat  its  pn^ress,  soon  fbr^w  that  it  would  prove  &faL 
He  then  conToked  aU  his  firiends,'  exhibited  before  them  some 
K&  of  his  art,  and,  after  warning  them  of  the  small 
ifallhnmBB  skill,  made  a  full  disclosure  of  the  crime  to 
wUcb  he  justly  fell  a  sacrifice.     His  deadi  was  attended  1^ 
egewwnatiog  pains,  which  wen  heightened  by  remorse,  and 
he  expsred  vainly  catling  on  his  mivdeied  nephew  for  assist- 
aaoe  and  relief. 

Dioeletian  wae  much  affected  by  this  truncal  story;  but  the 
emms  was  ^separed  to  oomiteract  the  impression  which  it 
had  left  by  fclatuig  the  tale  of 

xaB  TATKES  WKSEBKO  BY  HIS  SOK. 

Ostavian,  emperor  of  Bome,  surpassed  in  wealth  the 
richest  of  his  predenesssrs.  It  was  he  who  bnilt  the  cde- 
brated  tower  called  tiie  CrMcent,  in  which  he  locked  up  his 
tzeasurcB,  and  appointed  for  the  protectian  erf  his  hoard  a 
minister  whose  viKilanca  and  BTatiee  were  eqnally  proverbial. 
He  bad  also  another  minister,  who  was  a  perfect  contrast  to 
the  former,  being  lemarkablc  for  his  profision ;  so  that  having 
dasipsted  hie  mote  fortune,  lie  found  himself  without  re- 
t  la  peribctian.  ■  ATottrel,  dhuantira  of  •roistn,  ■  barianL— O.  Fr. 
•Maid. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


424  EAKLT  Ei(ei.iBn  kktsical  vlojulkceb. 

nnroe,  uid  st  last  ibrmed  die  def^>erate  reeolntion  of  robbing 
the  imperial  txcosoiy.  To  execute  such  a  design  without 
assistiince  was  nearly  impomible,  and  to  impart  it  to  a  com- 
mon accomplice  vas  too  hazardous;  he  therefore  choee  his 
own  son :  and,  knowing  where  the  money  was  deposited, 
repaired  by  night  to  the  tower,  made  a  breach  in  the  wall, 
entered,  and  carried  off  as  much  gold  as  th^  were  able  to 
transport  to  his  habitation.  With  uiifl  BU[^ly  he  was  enabled 
for  some  time  longer  to  pursue  his  former  course  of  exbvTa- 
gance ;  hut  haying  at  length  exhausted  his  coffers,  he  deter- 
mined to  attempt  the  repetition  of  an  enterprise  in  which  he 
had  been  once  successful.  Hie  crafty  treasurer,  however,  had 
not  slumbered  over  his  charge.  A  few  hours  only  bad  elapsed 
aAei  the  first  robbery,  before  he  perceived  that  part  of  the 
treasure  had  been  purloined,  and  discovered  the  part  of  the 
wall  through  which  the  thieves  had  entered,  and  which  on 
their  departure  they  had  again  repaired  so  carefidly  as  to 
leave  no  marks  of  injury  which  could  attract  the  attention  of 
a  common  observer.  Judging  from  this  circumstance  that 
they  would  probahlv  return,  he  caused  a  pit  to  be  dug  imme- 
diately under  the  pLice,  and  filled  it  with  pitch  and  birdlime, 
in  the  hopes  of  entrapping  the  robber,  who,  in  &ct,  ibund 
himself  instantly  entangled  so  effectually  as  to  preclude  all 
hopes  of  deliverance.  In  this  terrible  situation  he  called  to 
his  son,  warned  him  to  avoid  the  danger ;  explained  to  him 
the  impossibility  of  his  escape,  and  the  &tal  consequences 
which  must  result  to  hia  whole  fiimily  from  the  discovery  of 
his  guilt ;  and  tinally  conjured  him  to  strike  off  his  head,  as 
there  remained  no  other  means  of  escaping  detection.  The 
young  man  hesitated  for  some  time,  but  me  dawn  approached ; 
the  father  importunately  persisted  in  the  same  request :  the 
hope  of  preserving  himself  and  his  relations  from  a  danger 
otherwise  inevitable  at  length-  prevailed,  and  having  cut  off  liie 
head  he  precipitately  ran  off  with  it  towards  his  habitation. 

Ac  he  ne  wist,  for  none  need, 

'Where  he  might  it  best  i-hcde:' 

But,  als  he  came  by  a  gtmg,* 

Amid  the  pit  be  it  flung ; 

And  went  nome,  and  nmde  wo. 

His  brothren  and  his  sistren  also. 
In  the  mean  time  the  treasurer,  who  never  fiiiled  to  visit 
■  Hide.  I  Ajtka.— Hilliwdl'iKct. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


his  Irap,  wae  not  lew  sarpriaed  than  mortified  at  finding  in  it 
a  hcadleas  bimk,  firom  which  it  wets  impoesible  to  diaw  nnj 
indication  of  the  guilty  person.  He,  however,  had  recourse 
to  an  expedient  which  did  honour  to  his  sagacity.  He  gave 
orders  that  the  body  should  be  sloirly  drawn  by  the  fe«t 
through  all  the  streets  of  Rome ;  that  its  conductors  should 
be  constantly  on  the  watch ;  and  that  if  this  ceremony  should 
excite  in  any  house  near  which  they  passed  an  appearance  of 
onusoal  sorrow,  they  should  seise  and  bring  before  him  the 
occupieis  of  it,  who  would  probably  be  the  near  relations  of  Ihe 
deceased.  The  stratasem  was  on  the  point  of  succeeding,  aikd 
the  daughters  of  the  dead  man  were  betrayed  by  the  sight  of 
his  body  into  a  sudden  burst  of  lamentation,  which  atttacted 
the  attention  of  the  officers ;  but  the  brother  at  the  same 
moment  drawing  his  sword,  pierced  himself  in  the  thigh,  and 
exhibiting  his  wound,  convinced  them  that  this  accident  had 
occasioned  the  screams  which  had  awakened  their  suspicions. 
From  this  tale  the  empress  inferred  that,  as  the  young  mas 
had  thrown  hia  fother's  head  into  a  gong,  instead  of  burying 
it  with  proper  respect,  tbe  wicked  Florentin  would  gladly 
treat  his  majes^  with  similar  contempt ;  and  this  inference, 
though  perhaps  not  strictly  legitimate,  having  satisfied  Dio- 
cletian, he  rose  with  the  determination  of  orderiiw  his  son's 
execution,  irom  which  he  was  a^ain  diverted  by  'Ste  philoso- 
pher Lentilion,  who  related  to  lum  the  story  of 

THE  HttBBAKD   OITT  07  DOOBS. 

lliere  lived  formerly  in  this  town  a  bursas,  who,  being 
disposed  to  marry,  was  too  proud  to  accept  an  alliance  with 
any  of  his  neighbours,  and  proposed  to  select  for  his  vrife 
some  young  lady  who  might  ennoble  hia  blood,  and,  bv  her 
beauty  and  accomplishments,  excite  the  envy  of  all  his  ac- 
quaintance. Such  a  mate  he  had,  at  length,  the  good  Fortune 
to  discover ;  and  brought  home  a  young  damsel  of  high  birth, 
some  beauty,  much  afibctation,  and  more  effii^ntery.  The 
haughty  bride,  though  she  entertained  a  thorough  contempt 
fbr  her  husband,  was  in  some  measure  reconcOed  to  her  new 
situation  by  the  company  of  her  farmer  lover,  who  conde- 
scended to  consider  the  house  of  the  hospitable  burgess  aa  bis 
own,  and,  without  the  name  of  a  husband,  to  perform  all  a 
husband's  duties. 

There  was  at  this  time  a  law  in  Rome  that  any  person,  of 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


4i6  £UXT  nrauut  kxtsica^  sakutobs. 


vtMtever  nnk  or  kx,  who  Bhonld  be  fbond  oat  of  the  lioin* 
aAn'  the  soond  of  curfew,  diould  be  confined  in  piisoa  till  tlM 
Monung,  utd  then  publicly  driven  thrciu^  tbe  streets  u  > 
Tagnmt.  Tbia  law  soggeated  to  the  hnaband  a  proietA  fiv 
nwiiiiliiijt  the  libertine  disposition  of  hia  wife.  HkTing  pcr- 
onved  tint  rike  ma  in  the  habit  of  etetling  away  from  hia 
■de  irtirai  he  wh  jdnnged  in  hia  fizst  sleep,  and  reMenaUjr 
^  ^—i—  imioaing  that  die  did  not  pMS  the  tame  of  her  ahaeace  ia 
tatMaol^ode, 

O'  niitfat  be  him  u  drunk  made, 

Andyede' tobedbUtheandglMl,  • 

And  lay  still  as  he  slept  soon : 

She  stale  aw&y  inididon,* 

And  went  to  her  loleby;* 

And  he  it  a^wroeived'  eikerly,* 

And  went  him  out,  and  eegh  and  heard 

Altl^tfaer  how  she  mis-fored. 

And  went  him  in  oat  of  the  street, 

And  shut  the  door  swithe  aket,' 

And  t^ake  out  at  window. 

And  said,  "  Dame,  Ood  gire  thee  how;* 

This  thon  ne  might  forsue  for  none  need ; 

Ich  have  i-nome*  thee  in  this  dedc 

With  thy  lechour :  with  him  thou  go ! 

Of  thee  ne  keep  I  never  mo." 
Hie  hwnbled  wife  now  expressed  the  most  sincere  peni- 
tence; prayed  to  be  admitted  into  the  house;  urged  the  puhlic 
Aame  which  both  must  incur  if  she  were  Riund  in  the  streets 
at  that  hour ;  and,  at  length,  counterfeiting  the  extremity  of 
deqiair,  threatened  to  drown  hctMlf  in  the  well  as  the  only 
metuifl  of  preserving  her  r^nitation.  She  then  took  up  a  laive 
stone,  th^ew  it  violently  mto  the  water,  uttered  n  dreodhl 
■cream,  and  then  silently  retrestted  behind  the  door.  The 
baaband  made  no  reply  to  her  exclamations  but  that,  whether 
■ba  chose  to  hang  or  drown  herself  was  to  )iini  a  matter  at 
extreme  iodiStrenoe ;  but  he  was  startled  by  the  dashing  of 
t^  water,  and  by  the  subsequent  silence.  He  toutinned  to 
listen  at  the  window,  repeatedly  addret«ed  his  wife,  but  received 
no  answer.  He  tiwn  repented  of  his  sererity.  mshed  down  stairs, 
and  running  to  the  well,  waa  not  a  little  surprised  at  hearing 

ent.  ■  Quicklj ;  immedUtelj.  '  CinnpiBU 
Bd.       •  dciAj. 


uL,  Cookie 


XaX  SXTSM'  TTIBE   XASXXZS.  487 

tlM  door  shut  behind  him  with  ooiuideimble  noiae,  and  at 
bsing  assailed  by  a  tmmit  of  invcctiTos  &om  the  viiidov 
wfai^  he  bad  just  quitted.  It  was  now  bi>  torn  to  petition. 
llw  aoaod  of  the  curfew  struck  upoa  his  ear ;  he  heazd  th* 
hotM*  of  tbe  guards ;  he  implored  for  admittencc,  but  the  wift 
WM  deaf  to  his  intreatieS;  Eren  the  guards,  who  knew  Aa 
uiaoeent  charaeter  of  the  man,  interceded  fm:  him.  in  vain. 

She  anawered  aa  nmlieiona— 
"  He  Cometh  now  from  the  hoie-houae ; 

lltn  he  is  woned  me  to  serve, 

An  eril  death  mot  he  sterra:' 

I^  have  y-hid  his  shame  ere  thia; 

I  ne  will  nevermore  y-wis."  (t*       nvJ^' 

Corfbur 'bell  no  longer  Tong;  f*        )^      I 

"Hie  bui^ess  was  led  forth  with  wrong.  \y^    ^  - 

What  hdpeth  it  longer  tale  f  ■w'  ^^^ 

That  night  he  sat  well  sore  akale,*  U^** 

Aad  his  wife  lay  wsnn  a  bed,  '^ 

And  sokee  of  her  leman  fredde.* 

A  monrrw  the  burgess  was  forth  i-setta. 

And  hia  honden  beibm  him  knet;* 

And  through  the  town  he  was  y-lad,' 

Lothlich  driven,  and  begrad' 

As  a  thief.     This  mischanoe 

Ouiltleaa  he  suffered,  and  thia  p 


^. 


"Sire,  couth'  this  woman  of  guHe?" 
"  Ya,  she  was  a  traitour  vile. 

And  tMI  wttrse  than  a  hound!" 
"  Sire,  mo  swich'  there  betii  y-foimd. 
And  thyself  hath  one  swich ! " 
The  emperor  is  unable  to  controvert  the  remarlcB  of  Len- 
tilioD;  bat  at  night  once  more  changes  hie  mind  on  hearing 
from  the  empress  die  story  "  of  a  King  of  Apulia  and  of  hu 
Steward."    This  isjoo  gross,  nnd  much  too  dull  for  insertion; 
but  it  produces  the  usual  effect  on  Diocletian,  which  is  after- 
waids  removed  by  the  wise  master  Malquedrns,  who  relates 
tfte  story  of 

I  SB  OLD   WISE  H>LK  AKS  SIB   WIFB. 

ISieTe  WSB  fbniNriy  in  tiiis  city  an  old  man  who,  throi^oal 
•  Die.  ■  Caifeir.  *  OrieTcnulT  oool.  *  Ht.  Sax.  fredan,  Kolire. 
*I^         'Led.         'Alnued,A.S.         *  Kaaw.         '  Sndi. 


j„..;uL,Goo^|i: 


42S  Z&BLT  BNOLIIH   HEXBICAI.  B0VA!ICB8. 

hif  whole  life,  had  been  cited  as  ui  example  of  pnulence. 
He  had  amaased  an  ample  fortune,  which  he  expended  in 
rational  omuaements ;  and  having  successively  lost  two  wires 
whom  he  had  married  in  the  prime  of  life,  thought  a  state  of 
widowhood  the  best  suited  to  his  declining  age  and  growing 
infinnities.  But  his  friends  thought  otherwise;  andapmdent 
man  is  often  obliged,  for  the  sake  of  tranquilh^,  to  follow  the 
advice  of  his  friends  in  preference  to  his  own  wishes.  They 
recommended  to  him  a  joung  and  beautiful  girl,  who  haa 
been  educated  with  the  greatest  care  hj  an  attentive  mother, 
and  who  therefore  seemed  vety  unlikel]'  to  excite  in  him  that 
jealous  uneasiness  to  which  husbands  of  a  certain  age  are 
supposed  to  be  very  generally  addicted.  He  married,  and 
found  in  marriue  as  much  happiness  aa  he  expected. 

But  it  was  otherwise  with  the  young  lady.  As  neither  her 
mother  nCH-  her  confessor  had  thought  it  necessary,  before  her 
marriage,  to  explain  to  her  very  minutely  the  change  cd 
ntuation  which  she  was  about  to  undergo,  she  had  naturally 
trusted  to  her  own  imagination  for  a  picture  of  futurity;  and 
this  picture  of  conjugal  delight  was  so  &x  from  resembling 
what  she  experienced,  thnt  she  had  some  difficulty  in  coa- 
aealing,  even  from  her  husband,  the  exceea  of  her  disappoint- 
ment. After  revolving  this  matter  for  some  time  in  her 
thoughts,  she  concluded  that  her  husband  did  not  love  her ; 
and  that,  na  she  felt  no  great  disposition  to  love  him^  ahe 
could  not  do  better  than  to  search  for  a  third  person,  who 
might  more  nearly  sympathise  with  her  feelings.  With  this 
notable  resolution  she  was  so  well  satisfied  that  she  hastened 
to  impart  it  to  her  mother,  whom  she  found  at  church,  and  to 
whom  she  commimicated  a  long  string  of  domestic  anecdotes, 
concluding  with 

"Ich  mote  have  some  other  love." 

"  Nay,  daughter,  for  God  above ! 
Ola  men  ben  fell'  and  queint.* 
And  wicked  wrenches'  can  ateinte  :* 
Misdo  nought,  daughter,  but  do  by  rede."* 
The  old  ladv  then  proposed  the  following  expedient  as  a 
trial  of  the  old  man's  disposition.     "Your  husband,"  said 
she,  "has  in  his  garden  a  favourite  tree  which  he  rarelv  fails 
to  visit.     Take  advonti^  of  his  fii«t  absence  from  home; 

■  Cne).  ■  ConDlng.  *  Stntagens. — Sax. 

•  Gira  a  colouring  to,  \,N.  »  Advice. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


THE  SETXIT  VISE  XASTEBS.  429 

order  tbie  tree  to  be  cut  down  and  brought  in  logs  to  yonr 
fire;  and  irheii  he  ehall  astc  your  reason  for  committing  Hob 
oatzftge,  umply  answer,  that  you  did  it  for  tlie  purpose  of  com- 
municating som£  warmth  to  his  cold  bones."  "It  shall  be 
done,"  said  the  daughter;  and  she  kept  her  word.  The  old 
mitn  expressed  some  discontent  at  the  exploit,  and  at  the 
excuse,  but  he  was  too  prudent  to  say  much;  and  his  wife, 
iriio  was  only  anxious  to  witness  the  ultimate  success  of  her 
experiment,  paid  little  attention  to  his  present  feelings. 

She  waited  till  the  enchanted  fuel  was  nearly  expended; 
when  perceiving  that  the  old  man's  blood  was  still  as  tranquil 
as  if  he  had  warmed  himself  by  the  conmumest  tree  in  the 
feieet,  she  i^nin  repaired  to  her  mother,  who  again  dissuaded 
her  &om  resorting  to  extremities,  and  counselled  her  to  make 
this  second  trial.  "Your  husband  has  a  fevourite  grey-hoand 
bitch,  who  is  often  in  the  habit  of  caressing  you;  feisn  your- 
self out  of  humour  with  her,  and  murder  her  bdbrehis  &ce. 
It  will  be  strange  indeed  if  this  do  not  give  you  a  perftet 
insight  into  his  temper!"     "You  shall  be  obeyed." 

Was  it  nought  long  afterward. 

The  young  levedi  and  her  lord 

Sat,  on  even,  by  the  fire ; 

Beforcn  hem  stood  her  squire. 

IBhe  had  on  a  pilohe'  of  price. 

And  a  ohaisel*  theron,  y-'nis ; 

The  bitch  lay  in  hae  barm  :* 

She  played,  and  it  did  her  harm. 

She  drew  a  knife  and  her  smot; 

The  bitch  died,  Ood  it  wot. 

And  pOche  and  chaisel  aU  be-bled; 

The  lord  rose,  and  yede  to  bed- 

For  all  her  wrenche,*  and  all  her  gin. 

The  more  love  she  might  nought  win. 
In  relating  to  her  mother  the  ill  BucoesB  of  this  second 
eiq>enment,  she  expatiated  so  strongly  on  the  necesR^  of 
resorting  to  her  own  expedient,  that  uie  good  old  lady  hod 
the  curiosity  to  inquire  whether  any  knight  or  squire  hod  yet 
engaged  her  afi^bong.  She  answered  m  the  negative;  and 
atbled,  that  beii^  determined  to  scoure  her  reputation,  iba 

'  A  furred  drtas,  goienllf  woni  in  cold  woLtber. 
'  An  upper  HTBMnt  wUeh  eorarad  One  wlude  bodj,  *  Ltn, 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


430  EABLT  SFSUIH  XSTBICAI,  aOKAMOZS. 

k*cl  Unlets  of  bestowing  her  love  oa  some  jooag  p"**** 
wiw  would  of  coarse  be  careful  to  keep  ber  secret.  Ite 
anther  mw  now  moK  at  ease,  and  eryraned  her  to  make  ana 
taora  trial,  which,  eke  aaaored  her,  would  inblUbl;  proenM 
ber  happineaa  by  putting  an  end  to  the  praaent  apathy  of  ber 
hneband.  "Your  lord."  aoid  she,  "has  invited  aU  hia  friendt 
to  an  entertainment  iriiich  is  to  take  place  in  a  few  di^a. 
Yon  moat,  on  that  oceaaion.  hang  a  bunch  of  ke^  at  yonr 
girdle,  and  having  taken  your  seat  at  the  ui»>er  end  of  the 
table,  contrive  to  entan^  these  keys  in  the  table-cloth. 
Ihen.  upm  Mune  trifling  pnlext,  me  anddenly ;  by  whiok 
naans  the  cupa  and  di^MB  will  be  orenet,  and  the  ^dtole 
ootnpoay  thrown  into  oaatuaoa."  All  this  was  punctual^ 
exeonted  by  the  obedient  dai^hter;  who,  afta  "Bcrring  tiM 
gneats  with  bread  and  ale,"  took  her  seat  by  her  husband,  and 
MOD  after  sprang  up  from  table  with  such  dexterone  awkward, 
nesa,  that  the  irtiole  ball  was  instantly  Drerspresd  with  the 
nuns  of  the  entertainment.  Ihii  was  her  last  triumph, 
r  On  the  following  monoing  she  was  much  surprised  at 
beholding  in  her  apartment «  ta^e,.fire,  a  great  chair  covered 
with  cloth,  a  table  sujnnrting  a  number  of  basins,  and  a  ^ood 
barber,  who,  with  an  air  of  medical  importance,  was  expectinK 
her  arTival.  Her  husband,  ^addressing  her  with  his  usual 
mildness,  observed  that  she  had  in  bat  veins  a  quantity  of 
peccant  blood  which  it  would  be  neceesaiy  to  remove,  and 
assured  her  that  after  the  operation  she  would  inuned^tely 
regain  the  natural  gentleness  of  her  dispceition.  She  trembled, 
turned  pale,  declared  that  she  could  not  bear  the  sight  vd 
blood,  protested  that  bleeding  would  kill  her  on  the  spot, 
strayed,  screamed,  but  to  no  purpose :  the  inflexible  barber 
forcibly  placed  her  in  the  i^iair,  bared  her  right  arm,  opened 
the  vcm,  applauded  his  own  dexteri^,  took  away  two  por. 
ringers  of  blood,  and,  having  tied  up  the  wound,  proceeded  to 
repeat  the  operation  on  the  other  arm.  Fresh  screams,  expoo- 
tulations,  and  struggles  on  the  part  of  the  lady  were  unalde 
to  disturb  the  tranquil  obstinacy  of  the  barber.  A  third 
measure  of  blood  was  drawn  off:  the  patient  became  &int  and 

K'ddy ;  and  being  put  to  bed.  began  to  believe  that  her  Isat 
lur  was  now  really  approaching.  Her  husband,  indeed,  bad 
encouraged  her  to  hope  that  she  might  yet  do  w«Jl;  but  as  he 
bad  at  the  same  time  informed  her  that  the  next  tran^reasioB 
would  compel  him  to  douUe  the  diadpliue,  aba  wnt  in  the 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


THE  SZTSIT  WISE  lUSTXSS.  431 

wtmott  haste  for  her  ntotiier,  to  whom  she  funtl^  ened  out 
ttet  her  lord  had  killed  hei^ 

"For  mine  three  unwreat'  deed. 

Three  dishful  of  blood  he  let  me  Used, 

That  I  ne  may  live,  by  Godis  onl"* 
"Daughter  lietetb  tboe  love  more?  " 
"  Nay,  mother ;  l^  God  all  mij^t, 

I  uU  neither  love  derk  ne  kmght." 
"No,  daughter!  I  said  full  well, 

Th«t  old  mm  beth  queynt  and  fell. 

They  con  more  qued'  by^eoohe* 

Than  thou  canst  do  nith  any  wrenriie : 

Hold  thee  to  thine  buHbound, 

And  thon  ahalt  have  all  the  monnd !  "* 
lb  Has  Btoiy  the  artful  empress  opposed  tiiat  of 

CILESBUB    Iil£    BICH    lUN. 

Sir,  yom  maje«ty  has  doubtlese  beard  of  Virgil,  the  Ibmow 
endutnter.  He  jUaced,  by  hie  skill  in  necromanoy,  in  tke 
midst  of  the  Fortun,  a  fire  which  it  was  impoeaible  to  eztiii' 
goigh,  and  at  which  the  poor  of  Bome  wero  accustomed  to 
warm  IhemMlvee  and  to  cook  their  dinners.  On  a  pedestal, 
near  the  fire,  stood  a  brazen  statue,  with  a  cross-bow  benti 
and  a  quarrel  or  lai^  arrow  on  the  string;  and  on  tita  Sxn- 
bead  of  the  statue  was  an  inscription  purporting, 
"  Oif  me  smiteth  any  maa, 
I  schete*  him  anon  c^an." 

A  certain  Lombard,  taking  ofienoe  at  this  inseriptioB, 
Biked  penmseion  of  the  Romans  to  strike  the  statue,  and  they 
haviiu;  encouraged  him  to  try  the  adventure,  the  figuro  pn- 
nidwd  their  folly  by  shooting  his  qnarrel  into  the  midst  of  the 
fire,  which  from  that  moment  disappeared.  Thus  was  lofft 
(me  of  Virgil's  bene&ctions  to  this  city;  but  he  had  enriched 
it  with  other  nuurels,  the  destruction  of  which  is  the  imme- 
diato  object  of  my  story. 

On  the  eastern  gate  of  the  city  he  placed  a  figure  ot  brass, 
baring  in  bis  hand  a  golden  ball:  on  the  western  gate  stood 
utother  man  of  brass  exactly  similar,  except  that  he  was 
empty-handed ;  and  in  the  centre  of  Kome.  on  &e  top  of  an 
eterated  stage,  was  fixed  a  third  statue,  holding  in  its  hand  an 

'  But;  wicked.     'One:.     *  Evil,  mlichief.     *  flunk  of,  cantriro. 
*  All  tha  worid;  Le.dlroDrwidie«  dull  btgntifled.  '  Slioot. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


432  £ABX.y   ENGLISH  XETXIC&L  BOIUSOES. 

enchanted  miiror.  which  reflected  an  exact  picture  at  all  that 
was  passing  in  ItalT  within  seven  days'  journey  of  the  ci^- 
'Whencver  any  of  vie  neighbouriog  potentates  prepared  to 
attack  tlie  Bomaos,  the  two  first-mcDtioDcd  statue!!  b^an  to 
play  at  ball,  the  one  throwing  it  and  the  olhcr  catching  it; 
mid  this  excited  the  attention  of  the  citizens,  who,  on  inspect- 
ing the  magical  mirror,  inunediately  saw  the  qnarter  from 
which  they  were  menaced,  and  were  thas  enabled  to  anticipate 
the  designs  of  their  enemies. 

The  King  of  Apulia,  aware  of  these  obstacles  to  his  project 
of  attacking  the  city,  consulted  all  the  cunning  men  whom  he 
could  find,  and  at  length  found  two  ekrkt  in  Rome  itself,  wlio, 
on  his  promise  of  an  immense  reward,  undertook  to  contrirc 
the  desbuctiMk  of  tlie  statues.  They  obtained  from  the  king 
two  JbretTt  (cheats)  filled  with  gold,  which  they  secretly  con- 
veyed into  Rome,  and  buried  at  night  under  tne  two  statues 
at  the  gates-  On  the  following  day  they  repaired  to  the  palace, 
and  addressing  the  emperor,  informed  him  that  there  was  a 
TBst  treasure  concealed  under  ground  within  the  walls,  which 
they  would  undertake  to  discover  upon  his  assurance  that  they 
should  receive  half  the  profits;  but  that  they  must  first  go  to 
sleep,  because  it  was  only  in  a  dream  that  they  expected  to 
leant  the  exact  spot  where  the  gold  was  hidden.  The  emperor 
acceded  to  the  conditions,  and  on  the  next  day  tbc  elder  bo- 
ther pointed  out  the  statue  near  the  eastern  gate,  where,  on 
digging,  the  forcer  was  found,  and  conveyed  in  great  state  to 
the  imperial  treasurv.  The  younger  brother  was  a  no  lew 
able  dreamer;  and  the  emperor  having  made  an  excavatioii 
imder  the  statue  at  the  western  gate,  was  rewarded  by  a  second 
dicst  of  gold  still  richer  than  the  first.  Cressus  was  now  fhll 
of  confidence  in  his  dreamers,  whom  he  exhorted  to  persevere ; 
but  when  they  promised  him  an  exhaustless  mine  of  wealth  by 
digging  under  the  sUtue  with  the  mirror,  his  avarice  was 
combated  by  his  feais,  and  he  refused  to  permit  Uie  operation 
till  they  assured  him  that  all  Virgil's  treasures  were  concealed 
there,  and  that  they  could  so  prop  up  the  ground  that  all  might 
be  removed  without  danger  to  the  statue.  But  having  com- 
pleted their  excavation,  and  promised  the  emperor  for  tfae 
morrow  the  completion  of  his  utmost  expectations,  they  stole 
Ojut  m  die  nig^t,  kindled  a  fire  under  the  wooden  supports  of 
weir  mmo,  and,  having  witnessed  tlae  success  of  their  contriv- 
•Boe,  made  thdr  escape  into  Apulia.    The  populace  of  Eoma 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


THE  SETEV  WISE  UA8TEBH.  483 

nowTtiehed  in  crowds  to  t}ie  palace,  seiKed  the  emperor,  bonitd 
him  on  a  table,  and  having  melted  a  quantity  of  gold,  poured 
it  into  hia  mouth,  eyes,  and  eara. 

And  said,  "  Sire,  for  Godde'a  loTe, 

Thou  hast  made  tbrall  that  was  above; 

Now  art  thou  full,  now  make  Ihee  bait'; 

Now  wilt  thou  never  more  coveit'!" 
The  foregoing  tale,  it  is  true,  does  not  posBCM  mndi  intrinno 
merit,  but  it  was  about  an  emperor  who  was  duped  by  cunning 
men ;  ita  catastrophe  was  dreadM,  and  it  frightened  Diocletian 
iilmost  out  of  its  wits ;  so  that  it  required  aU  the  talents  of  the 
Ictimed  astrolo^  Ceton  to  restore  him  to  hia  aenaea,  which  he 
effected  by  tellmg  him  the  story  of 

THE  HA.OFIE. 


A  bu^eas  was  in  Rome  town, 
A  rich  man,  of  great  renoun; 
Marchaunt  he  was,  of  great  aveir*. 
And  bad  a  wife  was  queint*  and  foir; 
But  she  wss  fickle  under  her  lok, 
And  had  a  part  of  Eve's  amock: 
And  many  ben  yet  of  her  kin, 
That  boi  all  be-lapped  therin. 

The  buif^eaa  had  a  pie  in  his  hall, 
lliat  couth  tellen  tales  all  * 

Apotlich'  in  French  language; 
And  heng  in  a  &ir  cage. 
And  seeth  lemmans  comen  and  gon. 
And  telleth  her  loverd  soon  anon; 
And,  for  that  the  pie  had  y-said. 
The  wife  was  oft  evil  apaid*. 
And  the  burgess  loved  his  pie. 
For  be  wist  he  couth  nought  lie. 

So  it  befell  upon  a  day, 
Thebnrgcss  from  home  took  his  way. 
And  went  about  his  marchandise: 
The  wife  watched  anon  her  prise, 
■  B*ffti  joftal,  O.  Fr.        ■  Coret;  denn.        •  Pomcmjow. 
'  Not.  *  Op«alr,  pUnlr*  '  Pl«uad. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


U4  KAKLY  nrOLCIH  MRSIOAi;  BOIUITCBS. 

AaA  Mnt  htr  oopenav'  for; 
Aad  lAra  ke  com  to  the  holt  door. 
He  ne  dunt  nought  in  Ue, 
For  tbe  vreying*  of  the  pie. 
The  ^KUt  him  by  the  honde  bent, 
Axd  isto  chamber  anon  they  wtnL 

Tbe  pie  b^^  to  grede*  Knon,— 
"  Tm,  now  my  lorerd  is  out  y-gone, 
HiiOD  onmett  hither  for  no  good ; 
I  AbU  Ihee  wraie,  fay  the  rood!" 
lite  vife  tttongbt  y-ichent  she  «u; 
A  vrenche*  she  titougfat  natheUs*; 
And  deped  a  maid  to  make  her  bed. 
And  after,  by  her  bother  rede*, 
A  ladder  they  set  the  hall  to. 
And  nndid  a  tile  or  two; 
Orer  Uie  pie  they  gan  handle 
A  clear*  basin,  and  a  candle ; 
A  pot  foil  of  water  clear 
lliey  flked  upon  the  pie's  Bwere*. 
Win  baacn  beating,  atid  candle  lig^ 
Hict'  bobbed  the  pie  by  night. 
And  w«ter  mi  him  gan  ach^iche*; 
lliis  waa  one  of  woroan'e  wnndie, 

Tba  the  day  d^wco  gan. 
Away  stale  die  young  man. 
Hen  unlock  door  and  window ; 
Tile  pie  her  shook  with  mochd  how'*. 
For  she  wae  faiu  that  it  was  day; 
Tie  oopener  was  went  his  way;— 
The  good  butvMs  waa  home  y-oome; 
Into  tlie  hall  the  way  he  nome. 
Ilie  pie  said,  "  By  God  Almi^l 
Hie  copener  was  here  to-ni^t, 
And  hath  j^^donc  thee  mochiel  shame; 
And  made  an  bore  of  our  dame ! 
And  yet  it  hath  been,  to  night. 
Bleat  rain,  and  thunder  bright; 

>  Lover.  Su.  *  Dueorenng,  beCnjinf.         ■  C17. 

■  Nererthelev.  *  Bjp  tfadr  Joint  adrtee. 

■* 10  a  to  refect  Ibe  light,  *  H«k. 

■ke,  to  pan  oat.  Sn,  »  Ctta. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


XVa  SMYMM  W1«E  XUaiXB. 


Tleirife  h«A  tiie  tale  r-hntd. 
And  dxragbte  well  to  been  asiered;' 
And  Bmde,  "  Sire,  Aou  hast  oslnge 
To  'Here  ■  pte  in  a  cagBi 
To  nieKt  w»  tbe  ««Ra«-  den. 
And  tiie  fiimamenl  well  &ir; 
And  she  galdi  it  b&th  been  tlKHtdra; 
Ae  fa&th  i-lowe*  nwm  tt  wander; 
But  nn  b6  awtcse  of  lier  wnttCt 
He  ahdl  I  nerer  ben  wonn  hBH^V 

llie  good  man  asked  hia  ne^bmm 
OF  that  night,  and  ofHie  lionni; 
And  tb^  said,  that  all  lliat  ni^it 
Was  QiB  weather  clear  and  br^^ 
tbe  brnveia  said,  "  Uie  pie 
Ne  du4a  him  never  more  lie;" 
Nb  more  wordes  he  there  ^lake, 
Snt,  all  BO  swilhe,  his  ncclt  to-br^e. 

And  when  he  law  his  pie  dead, 
Fcv  aoTTow  coulh  he  no  rede: 
He  saw  her  bodi  and  her  cage. 
He  Qtooghte  of*  guile  and  oatrsge. 
He  went  him  out.  the  ladder  be  8^^< 
And  iqt  to  the  haQ  roof  be  stegth,* 
Hie  pot  with  the  water  he  found; 
(llat  be  bralce  with  hie  hand;) 
And  many  other  ti«cheiie 
l^t  was  i-don  to  his  pie. 
He  went  him  down,  without^  o^ 
In  hia  heart  grim  and  wrolh; 
And  wiili  a  good  staff;  fun  alcet. 
His  wife  onte  door  he  bet; 
And  bade  her  go,  liiat  iike  daf  , 
Ab  alder-twea^-deril  way!' 

"  Ix>,  Sire,"  he  said.  "  for  a  fbol'a  nde, 
Hk  pie,  tbat  said  sooth,  was  dexd; 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


436  SASI.T   ZK0U8B  MXTBICAX   BOIUnOBa. 

Had  he  taken  good  caiweil. 
His  pie  had  been  whole  and  hale: 
And  also  foi«th  thine  emprice, 
llioTougli  her  reaaon,  ahrewd  and  nioe,' 
She  goeth  about,  day  and  night. 
Thy  son  to  death  for  to  di^t." 
To  this  tale  die  en^rem  oppoaed  that  ot 

Herondes,  emperor  of  Rome,  had  in  hia  conncil  Beren 
aagea,  to  whom,  while  be  followed  his  amuaements,  he  intrastcd 
iJie  wHole  management  of  the  empire ;  and  tbese  sages  em- 
ployed the  power  thna  confided  to  them  as  a  means  of  grati. 
ftring  their  avarice.  ThouRh  their  authority  did  not  enaMe 
uiem  to  levy  a  tax  on  his  subjects,  they  derirad  from  the  cre- 
,  duK^  of  the  Komans  a  conmderable  revenue;  having  enacted, 
that  whoever  should  wish  to  have  an  intrepretabon  of  his 
dream  must  bring  them  a  besauntP  as  a  reward:  and  as  the 
Bomans  were  great  dreamers,  the  contribution  was  nearly 
eqnal  to  the  whole  imperial  revenue.  But  the  emperor  was 
pnnished  by  heaven  for  his  culpable  deference  to  his  ministers. 
One  day,  that  he  was  preparing  to  go  out  on  a  hunting-par^, 
and  was  passii^  nn^  one  of  the  gates  of  the  city,  he  vras 
— Bnddenly  struck  blind.  The  wise  men  were  immediately  snm- 
mo&ed,  and,  beio^  intem^tcd  why  the  emperor  could  not 
see,  confessed  that  they  were  unpre|nred  with  an  answer,  and 
reqnested  a  fortnight's  delay,  during  which  time  they  meant  to 
oonsnlt  their  books,  and  hoped  to  discover  the  cause  and  tlie 
means  of  remedying  liiia  unexpected  calamity,  fiat  tJieir 
books  were  consulted  to  no  purpose ;  the  emperor,  who  whUst 
he  had  his  sight  never  thought  fit  to  use  it,  was  very  impatimt 
for  its  tecovery,  and  the  sages  were  almost  in  despair,  when 
an  (dd  man  advised  them  to  consult  the  celebrated  Merlin,  the 
(diild  who  was  bom  without  the  intervention  of  a.  fikther. 

Two  of  the  wise  masters,  being  deputed  by  the  rest,  brou^t 
tliis  wonderful  child*  to  Rome,  and  introduced  him  to  He- 
lowdes,  to  whom  he  related  that,  at  some  depth  in  the  earUi, 

'  Wicked  and  fooluh.  ■  A  ooin  of  ^Id,  fonoertf  lued  it 

Bjtantiam,vahiad  by  JotDVille  sttoi  Mill;  andcoiiMqiieiitlfworthiadiar 
more  tkiu  ■■  mui;r  Uttm  of  the  pneiDt  iaj. 

*  Hw  mode  in  which  Merlin  wu  diKOTered  is  exaotl;  copied  traia  his 
noMnce,  siid  tliei«fin  omitted  in  this  abitnet. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


XHX  SBTZK  ITHX  1UBTES8.  437 

bnt  directly  under  his  majesty'i  bed,  waa  a  great  cauldron, 
boiling  widi  bctch  large  bubbles,  and  that  bo  long  as  the  said 
ottvldron  flbould  continiie  to  boil,  ond  Qie  bubbles  remain  un- 
broken, he  never  would  recover  his  sight.  Ibe  emperor,  a 
good  deal  surprised  at  tbis  intelligence,  employed  his  miners 
to  search  for  the  cauldron,  «bi<£  was  readily  found;  and 
irhich,  without  any  apparent  eidtement,  contmued  to  boil, 
and  to  exhibit  exactly  seven  great  bubbles.  He  then  b^ged 
to  know  how  this  ebullition  could  be  arrested;  but  Merlin 
replied,  that  this  important  secret  could  duIt  be  disclosed  to 
his  imperial  ears,  and  that  his  most  ccmfidential  ministeta 
must  leave  the  room.  This  belne  complied  with.  Merlin  pro- 
ceeded to  state  that  the  wickedness  of  the  wise  men,  who 
caused  themselves  to  be  paid  a  beeaimt  for  every  dream  which 
th^  interpreted  for  his  subjects,  had  provoked  tiie  indignation 
of  Heaven,  and  that  his  majesty  had  therefore  been  visited  by 
this  severe  misfortune,  for  the  termination  of  which  nothing 
more  would  be  necessary  than  to  strike  off  the  heads  of  his 
seven  ministers.  Herowdes,  rejoiced  to  find  that  his  cure 
could  be  so  cheaply  obtained,  caused  his  first  minister  to  be 
beheaded,  and  had  the  satisfiiction  to  hear  that  the  corre- 
other  execttticHis 
e^ct,  and  Herowdes 
became  as  clear-sighted  as  before  bis  accident 

To  remove  the  impression  left  by  this  tale  on  the  minA  of 
Diocletian  was  the  obiect  of  the  sixth  master,  whose  name  is 
not  mentioned,  but  wno  proceeded  to  tell  the  story  of 

THE  WIDOW  WHO   WAS   COIITOBTES. 

Tbere  was  a  knight  in  this  country,  "a  ric^e  shmrere" 
(count),  who  married  a  young  and  b^utifiil  wife,  the  object 
of  his  tenderest  affection.  Such  was  the  happiness  of  this 
young  couple,  that  the  day  and  night  appeared  too  short  for 
their  endearments,  and  each  moment  of  accidental  separation 
waa  considered  by  both  as  a  serious  misfortune.  One  day, 
whilst  they  were  examining  tc^thcr  a  new  knife,  which  had 
beeD  bestowed  on  the  lady  as  a  bridal  present,  it  slipped  from 
die  hands  of  her  husband  and  slightly  wounded  her.  The 
accident  was  followed  by  no  bad  consequence;  but  the  nn- 

>T  knight  was  seized  with       '  '  '  "       ■  ■  ■     -  • 

a  that  he  suddenly  died. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


438  EAKLT  KHOUSH   MKTBIOIX  XOXANCES. 

He  did  gra^  fcCe,  ecrte, 
Qr  toe  tender  was  bia  hnrL 
Dolndilj  giief  IB  not.  in  all  cmstitDtiDBa. «  ratntal  dis- 
uae;  somI  the  k>Tel7  cauie  of  his  death  EMuid  htndf  tmMr 
to  daike  (4  *nth  the  Mue  expedhiiiB,  the  bwAm  of  exwt- 
esM.  Y«t  she  tmsted  thfd  she  shoald  not  hn^  aamve  him; 
aod.  unwilling  to  tev  beraelf  from  hia  nmaiBS,  oidCTcd  « 
naall  Vm^  to  be  boih  in  the  c^urch-jrsrd  onr  tfte  inteBdad 
|d>n  of  hk  gisve,  tmd  look  pooowrioo  of  this  gad  tahilatirm 
«■  the  di^  of  hw  interment.    Her  fhends  Toinfy  interpMCid, 

And  saiden,  "  Dame,  gect  and  firee:, 

Oftbrsdf  bavepitc; 

For  taou  art  fair  and  jouns  lana  ftil. 

And  Duj'Bt  the  worid  moc&l  avail: 

Smat  bugb  diau  wad  of  oMaj, 

And  hkte  ittth  Mm  nnch  to  plaj; 

Good  children  beget  and  iair: 

Gcatil  i^w*  d^bonaire. 

Let  amy  thy  mourning. 

And  take  thee  to  aome  txHoSatiagV 
"  Hut  will  I  do  fin-  BO  weed; 

Ac  die  I  will  on  his  hnzialc!" 
As  tby  |MrceiT«d  that  the  torrent  of  her  grief  odf  ■■ellid 
the  more  by  indiscreet  (position,  they  now  satiafied  ftoik- 
■dvea  wi&  jvoriding,  in  sikitce,  every  accesDmodcticn  ttat 
cmdd  be  aftirded  in  the  hovel  whicb  tdte  though  fit  to  oo- 
cu|^;  and  particolariy  took  the  precantion  ctt  ■"■^'rr  an 
excellent  fire,  to  secure  ber  trom  the  baneM  efi^ts  of  IIk 
damp,  and  left  a  siqiply  of  fuel  mfficient  to  last  till  the  next 


e  of  the  ehnrch-yard. 

The  thKe  thieves  weren  kn^^ts, 
Tliat  were  i^honged  anon-n^ta; 
Fir  they  had  the  coim^  aaoyed. 
And  with  robbery  destroyed. 
Aohoneed  tbey  were  all  three. 
A  kni^t  of  the  eaantr^  held  lua  Cm, 
For  to  loke>  the  three  koightw 
Upon  the  gallowG  three  nightea. 
'  Watdi. 


j„..;uL,  Google 


lax  BETZK  iries  mastsms.  439 

He  com  to  tiw  gallffwa,  onoMl  wtile. 

Both  in  iron  and  in  steel. 

For  to  malce,  the  first  oigjit,  void. 

The  wearier  was  cold  utd  frowBid; 

He  was  fbr-oold,  and  looked  sbout, 

Ajid  was  ware,  withguten  ^vbt. 

Of  tlie  fire  in  tbe  obivch-hawe,' 

And  tluther-ward  be  gan  to  draw. 

For  to  hare  tome  warming ; 

And  found  the  levedi  doel*  making. 

And  bade'  elie  dioidd  let  him  in. 

She  said  ihe  n'old,'  by  8tiint  Jobaia. 
"  A!  yea,"  he  said,  "  lev*'  dante, 

I  n'ill  diee  do  harm  ae  duune." 

He  ewore  as  he  was  gentil  knighti 

She  let  him  in  aDDoright- 

He  sat  and  wanned  huo  by  the  teri 

He  b^teld  the  lady  a  cheer, 

And  se^h  swid  sembiant  ai»  made; 

And  aaid,  "  Dame,  thou  art  agade,* 

That  thoa  moanest  for  the  dead. 

That  may  thee  do  uolher  good  ne  quad!' 

Comfort  thyself,  pluck  up  thine  heart; 

Such  luoumiug  ihen  will  thee  smart. 

Of  this  moumiiu;  thou  hast  unright; 

Thoa  ahouldest  K>Te  name  gentil  kn^t 

That  to  thee  mi^t  do  some  solas;" 

And'ahe  said,  "Alias!  alks!" 

At  this  time  the  knight  began  to  reflect  thitf,  during  his 
absence,  the  deed  bodies  committed  to  his  chai^  might  pos- 
eibly  be  purtoiiied;  he  thn«fbre  mounted  his  horse  and  rode 
to  the  gfulawB.  But  he  ^rived  too  late,  for  one  of  them  was 
already  carried  off.  It  wsa  Tain  to  lament  his  own  efiemi- 
nacy,  which  had  induced  him  to  des«rt  his  poat  in  search  of  a 
good  fire,  or  to  iraiseeate  curaes  on  the  desperate  hardihood 
of  those  who  bad  profited  by  hie  negligence.  The  mischief 
was  done;  and  his  own  invention  suggested  no  means  of 
repairing  it.  But  he  had  same  confid^iee  in  the  resonrcea 
of  fbmale  cunning;  and  having  returned  to  tho  lodge,  and 
communicated  hie  distreaa  to  tiie  beautiful  mourner,  was 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


440  KA^LT  xirougB  ketstcal  sokascxs. 

completely  encouraged  by  the  unexpected  confidence  <tf  hei 
reply. 

She  aaid,  "  Sir,  ich  will  help  thee. 

So  that  thou  init  spouae  me." 
"  Yes,  d&mc,"  he  said,  "  weciouae ! 

Gif  thou  me  help,  I  vriU  thee  spouse." 

She  let  her  sorrow  away  gon, 

And  said,  "  Help,  leman,  anon; 

Help  delve  up  my  lord  that  was. 

He  shall  us  helpcn  in  this  cas; 

And  hong  we  him  in  his  entaile!" ' 

Her  rede  was  done  sans  faiUe : 

It  ne  may  nought  ben  for -hole,' 

lli»  ba^  him  forth  for  him  was  stole, 
lien  said  the  knight  to  the  leredi, 
"  Who  may  this  knight  hongi?* 

I  thee  say,  by  heaven  king, 

I  n'old  him  honge  for  no  thing ; 

For  gif  ich  had  i-faonged  a  kuu^t, 

I  ahold  be  coward  y-cleped  wim  right" 
"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  I(i  will,  full  few,* 

High  him  hongen  and  up-drawc!" 

The  levedi  did,  in  wode  gear,* 

A  Topc  about  her  lordis  swere. 

And  drew  him  up,  and  hmig  him  fiist: 

The  knight  of  her  deeds  was  aghast, 

And  said,  "  Dome,  by  Qod  mound,' 

The  stolen  knight  had  a  wound 

In  his  heTed,  toat  was  be-knoe' 

Whereby  him  knew  high  and  low; 

And  but  thy  loTerd  swich  one  haTC, 

I  thee  say,  so  God  me  save. 

Soon,  within  a  little  while. 

Worth'  i-parceived  our  guile." 
"  Sir,"  ahe  said,  "  take  thy  swrad, 

And  in  the  heved  smite  my  loverd; 

Tbea  shall  it  ben  none  understonding. 

But  it  was  he  that  there  ere  hing."  * 
"  Nay,  dame,  ibr  moche  ne  for  lite,  '• 

The  dead  knight  would  I  nought  smite !" 
'tlaeciitead.         *  ConcaJed.         ■  Bang.        *  GUd.        *  In  fiuriwu 
muuwr.    * God'i Torld.    ^ Knomi.    'Will be.    'Hoiig.    >* Utile. 

D,j,,..;uL,Coo^|i: 


TUK  BETEIT  WiaB  MASTEBS.  441 

"  No,  Sire?"  she  said,  "  thy  awerd  me  reach. 
And  ich  him  shall,  with  my  bond,  teach 
How  Qodu  enune '  came  to  town. 
Bight  amiddward'  his  crown." 
TiiB  lady  took  and  smote  with  main 
All  omidelward  the  brain : 
Then  tlie  kni^t  well  uudentood 
That  Mse  and  fickle  was  her  blood; 
And  said,  "  Yet  unlike  he  betb; 
Broken  were  his  fore  teeth." 
"  Sir,"  she  said,  "  smite  hem  ont." 
"  Nay,  dame,"  he  said,  "withouten  doubt." 
"  llien  will  ich,"  ahe  said;  and  took  a  stone, 
And  smote  hem  out  ererich  one. 

When  this  deed  was  i-do, 
The  levcdi  said  the  knight  to, 
"  Sire,  now  ich  have  won  thy  lore!" 
"  Nay,  dame,"  he  said,  "I^Qod  above. 
For  gold  ne  silver,  lond  ne  house. 
Thy  &lBe  bodi  ne  would  I  spouaej 
For  bU  so  wouldeet  thou  serve  me, 
As  thou  hast  done  thy  loverd  so  firee : 
Thou  hast  i-taught  me  a  new  ran,* 
That  I  shall  never  liere  woman; 
For,  tho  they  make  semblant  fiurest. 
They  will  beguile  you  alderformeat !"  ' 
To  this  tale  the  empresa  opposed  a  story  no  less  dull  than 
absurd.     Rome,  it  seems,  was  once  besieged  hj  seven  Saracen 
kings,  and  the  emperor  was  advised  to  confide  its  defence  to 
seven  wise  men;  one  of  whom,  by  name  Qenus  (Janus),  de- 
vised a  stratagem  for  the  purpose  of  fr^htening  away  the 
enemy.     He  caused  to  be  mode  a  black  garment,  covered 
with  black  sqnirrel-tails,  and  a  vizor  with  two  &ces,  the  most 
fngfati^d  that  could  be  imagined,*  above  which  he  adjusted  a 
mirror,  intended  to  reflect  the  sun's  rays.     In  this  fencifiil 
dress  he  mounted  to  the  top  of  one  of  the  towers;  gesticulated 
with  great  violence,  screamed  as  loudly  as  he  could;  and, 
dasiling  the  eyes  of  the  enemy  with  lus  mirror,  immcssed 
upon  them  the  opinion  that  he  was  either  an  angel  of  lig^t, 

'  Anger.  '  la  the  midit.         *  Sajing.  *  First  otall,  A.  S. 

*  Here  endi  the  AncMnleek  MS. ;  tba  remiiader  ii  &om  the  Cotton 
MS.,  vbxn  it  occnpiei  sfaont  1,250  linet. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


4(3  EASLT  XJfGUBB  ICKTSICU.  BOICAKCEB. 

or  a  deril  at  TBfy  bigh  rank ;  lo  that,  batk  ehsncters  being 
considered  aa  equidlj  inTinciUe,  the  Sanaeaa  raued  the  siege, 
ran  off,  and  dimng  their  fti^t  were  aki^tered  in  great 
numbera  bj  tlie  ChristianB.  The  Boman  cititciu  renarded 
tiie  ingenuity  of  OenuB  by  plaeiag  him  on  the  imperial  throne, 
after  depoeing  their  former  emperor.  The  empress,  as  osual, 
threatens  Diocletian  with  similar  degrndaliaii;  tlie  foolish 
monarch  again  oidm  ib/B  jvince's  csecution,  and  again  recaUs 
his  order  at  the  intereeniaD  oS  the  seventh  vise  master, 
named  Maxentius,  who  proi^ieeies  that,  on  the  following  day, 
^orentin  will  recover  his  gpee<iL,  and  fiilly  exculpate  himself; 
and  in  the  mean  time  entntaiM  his  nugesty  with  the  tale  of 

IHK  TWO  DSKUfS. 

There  was  formerly  a  knight  in  Hnngary  distinguished  by 
his  prowess,  but  still  m<x«  distinguished  by  fais  talents  and 
ingenuity,  in  which  be  ecjuaUed  ami  even  surpassed  the  most 
leiffDed  clerks  of  his  time.  One  night  h«  b^eld  in  a  dream 
a  lady  of  astonishii^  beauty,  at  whom  he  became  suddenly 
enamoured;  and  wbm  he  waked  in  &e  monung  he  found  it 
impossible  to  erase  the  imprMsiim  made  by  the  diarms  of  this 
visionary  misbees.  Her  height,  har  air,  ber  complexion,  the 
colour  of  her  hair,  and  even  the  form  and  proportion  of  all  ber 
features  were  so  eaactly  painted  oa  his  memtHr^,  that  he  felt 
snre  of  recwmnag  ker  as  easily  as  an  cM  aequamtaace;  and, 
having  nothu^  bettw  to  do,  departed  without  loss  of  time  on 
tUa  suwnlar  qnest,  in  which  oe  flattered  himsdf  with  the 
b^ea  of  Bucoass,  attboag^  he  had  no  cine  to  lUreet  him,  tni 
was  no  lees  ignorant  of  the  eouatry  which  oevtained  his  lady 
Aan  of  her  name  and  eendition.  At  the  same  point  of  tame 
the  lady  had  a  skniUr  dream,  and  became  no  lees  Tiolsetij 
enamoured  of  the  knirirt;  bat,  not  being  equal^  at  liber^  to 
wander  about  the  w<Md,  eonld  «aly  de^mne  the  miribrtune  of 
beii^  tonaented  by  de^res  wfaitdi  she  coold  not  reasonab^ 
be»  to  gratify. 

During  three  long  months  the  traveller  proceeded  in  im 
search  without  any  cDBSolatian  but  the  consoiousnees  that  Us 
adrenture  was  strictly  oonibrmable  ta  the  practice  of  chivalrf ; 
bat  having  at  l^igth  reached  the  sea-side,  he  perceived  a 
iqtftcious  castle,  which  seemed  to  be  the  residence  of  some 
(qtulent  and  powerfiil  boroo.  Its  walls  od  one  side  ware 
washed  by  the  sea,  which  there  fixmed  a  cxnamodioiia  haven 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


XHB  BBTKK  WISE  XA8TEXS.  44$ 

SBtd  witli  ahrpping,  and  the  only  gftte  «■  the  kad-nde  mm 
gqaaAtA  l^  &  sbmR  asd  lofW  tower. 

Hub  tover  coatuned  tlte  long-song^  otject  of  the  kni^d's 
kfeetiav.  She  was  wife  to  the  castdlaa,  wbo  ardently  Itvnd 
kar,  and  whose  jeakmsy  was  equal  to  his  kwe.  He  l^pt  her 
from  all  intereotusQ  with  mankind  in  a  tidx  and  spaoiaaa 
apartment,  the  windows  of  which  were  secured  by  etooac  ban 
a  tfeel,  uid  at  one  (tf  ttteee  windows  was  the  bdy  enjoying 
Ab  prospect  when  our  knidit  made  his  appeaiaace.  lite  earl 
her  hnaband  was  sitting  immadiately  fa^inr  her  in  n  small 
oonit  or  garden,  md  was  fiMliuiately  aucb  occupied  by  a 
game  at  dieaa,  at  which  he  ms  engaged  vi&.  oae  of  his 
Twsak. 

The  knight,  aUnoted  by  tte  appeantnoe  d  a  female  fignie, 
taie  towavde  the  window;  and  <m  a  near  aiqnoaeh  had  Ae 
pleasure  to  recogaiee  the  well-known  featares  of  dw  lady  <f 
the  dream. 

He  looked  vp  into  the  towor. 

And  menily  t»ag  he  of  aniwir; 

And  when  wke  hrard  him  so  beigin, 

Uimethee  mi^t  that  lady  blyn. 

That  she  ne  had  called  him  her  imto; 

But,  for  her  lord,  ^le  durst  noc^t  so. 
The  festoreB  of  her  lorar  were  concealed  l^  h&  helmet,  but 
Us  genend  air  and  loipearaace  were  eofflcMnt  U>  stake  him  , 
bown;  and  though  Oke  had  no  means  of  explaining  to  him 
kcr  situation,  riie  had  the  satisbotion  of  seeing  that  hia  sag»- 
aty  had  instantly  ditecvered  the  cause  of  her  emfaartaivnieat. 
Instantly  ceasing  to  address  her,  he  advanced  towards  Ag 
eatl,  disHiounted  from  his  hone,  and  kneding  befbre  bin  said, 
"Sir  earl,  I  am  a  knight  of  a  lar  eoamtiy;  I  am  driren  fron 
Biy  poesesstona  in  emiaequence  at  having  killed  in  a  dual  a 
kwght  whose  finnily  was  more  poweriiil  Aan  my  own;  I 
know,  from  the  appeanmoe  of  your  territory  iriiidi  I  have 
tnfeised,  that  you  alao  are  hardly  beset  b^  your  enemies, 
and  I  come  to  oSer  you  a  sword  which  peritaps  may  prore 
fbttuaate  in  your  aernee."  Ibe  eari  wiUiu^ty  acoepted  his 
|Hopo8als.  and  in  a  few  d&ys  had  the  satis&ctton  of  seeing  hia 
enemiefl  complet^  defeated  by  the  enterprising  adventurer, 
whose  prowess  in  the  field  appeared  to  he  ineaistihle,  and 
who  discovered,  as  if  by  intiution,  all  the  pro,^ot8  of  hia  owa- 
nents,  while  hia  own  were  perfectly  in^eoaetrDUe.     In  a  ucot 

D,j„.„^.,  Cookie 


444  EABLY    KKBLIBU    KXTBICIX    BDIUSCM. 

time  the  wliole  countiT  was  cleared  of  invaders,  and  the 
caitle,  eo  lately  filled  with,  alarm  and  coofiuion  bj  the  cxoirds 
iriio  had  retired  to  it  as  a  place  of  rcfiige,  exhibited  the  tran- 
quil fbimalitj  of  a  peaceM  court.  Au  were  delighted  with 
the  Tictorioiui  stranger;  and  the  ead.  who  could  now  hunt  hia 
dogB  and  fly  hia  falcmia  without  being  frightened,  set  no 
bounds  to  his  gratitude. 

As  the  tower  which  contained  his  wife  was  accessible  only 
by  a  single  door,  the  key  of  which  never  quitted  his  pocket, 
and  SB  he  wa«  perfectly  ignorant  of  the  passion  which,  through 
the  agency  of  a  vision,  bad  united  the  souls  of  the  two  lovers 
iriiile  th^  bodies  were  separated  by  an  interral  of  a  few 
hundreds  of  leagues,  the  good  man  did  not  think  it  necessaij 
to  watch  over  or  to  int^ere  with  the  amusements  of  his 
deliverer,  who  generally  passed  his  evenings  in  a  solitary  ride, 
and  always  contrired  in  returning  to  pass  as  near  as  possible 
to  the  window  of  his  mistress. 

A  letter  soon  she  cast  him  till, 
"Whereby  he  mi^t  wite  all  her  will. 
The  knight  took  up  the  pai^emyne,' 
And  red  the  Pi«ndi  full  &ii  and  fine. 
And,  all  soon  as  he  red  it  had. 
Was  he  never  in  heart  so  glad. 
Nothing  n£w  remained  but  to  obtain  an  interview  witli  the 
lady,  which  however  was  a  matter  of  no  small  difficul^. 
Fortunately  the  knight  was  not  apt  to  be  stopped  by  difficul- 
ties; and  as  these  had  been  long  since   foreseen,  he  had 
already  matured  the  project  by  which  he  hoped  to  overctone 

He  began  by  requesting  the  earl  to  bestow  on  him  a  piece 
of  the  waste  ground  beyond  the  tower,  for  the  purpose  of 
building  a  habitation;  uid  as  this  request  proved  his  inten- 
tion of  prolonging  his  stay,  besides  which  it  was  thought  that 
such  an  outwork  to  the  castle,  constructed  nnder  his  directitHi, 
could  not  but  add  considerably  to  the  strength  of  the  place,  it 
was  joyfully  granted.  The  building  advanced  with  rapidi^; 
Its  turrets  rose  into  the  air ;  and  sabterraneous  galleries,  Rp~ 

■  Letten  were  nsuaUT  written  on  parchinent,  and  ddier  festeoed  with  a 
pia  or  lewed.  Lvliei  were  generslly  «ble  to  write,  thongh  few  knigbts 
nould  read;  bat  puehment  wee  lo  Merce  thit  to  procure  a  piece  for  s 
Vne-letter  wai  often  verj  difficult.  Tho  word  Frenci  fin  the  n«it  line) 
it  Dwd  for  UDgaage  in  geuncL 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


THE  SEYSS  TTISE  KARIERS.  445 

parently  intended  for  the  secure  reception  of  magazines  and 
Rw  the  oouSjKBKMt  of  priaoneTB,  extended  in  every  direction 
to  a  conriderable  dirtance.  One  of  these  advanced  under  the 
tower;  and  when  &e  work  was  in  this  state,  the  knight  sent 
Sar  an  aixJiitect  erf  eminence  from  a  neighbouring  city,  to 
iriiom  he  imparted  his  secret,  and  who,  nnder  his  own  eye, 
made  a  communication  with  the  floor  of  that  building,  bo  art- 
fiilly  concealed  that  no  ^e  could  discover  it  The  sueoess  of 
hit  project  was  now  secure;  but  the  foreign  artist  was  in  pos- 
seesion  of  the  secret,  and  his  fidelity  might  poaatbly  be  cor- 
nqited. 

The  knight  quit'  well  the  service 
Of  the  mason  for  his  quantise;* 
He  slew  him  soon,  that  3ke  day. 
For  fear  that  he  should  ought  say. 
After  this  mm^er,  which,  because  the  Hn&i(x.wBs  an  inierior, 
is  related  without  any  marks  of  reprobation,  he  gailv  repaired 
to  the  interview  with  his  mistress,  in  whose  embraces  he 
received  the  reward  of  his  past,  and  formed  the  project  of  new/ 
acta  of  treachery.  / 

At  parting,  the  lady  put  on  his  finger  a  gold  ring,  with 
which  he  banned  home,  and  soon  after  repaired  to  the  great 
hall,  where  he  joined  his  sovereign  and  ue  court  at  table. 
Ihe  earl,  who  always  delighted  in  his  converaatitHi,  was  on 
this  occasion  more  pleased  than  ever  with  the  unnsual  gaiety 
of  his  &vourite,  till  he  discovered  on  the  knight's  finger  the 
ring  with  which  he  had  some  reason  to  be  well  acquainted. 
He  had  presented  it  to  his  wife  as  a  memorial  of  his  afibction; 
it  was  the  work-  of  an  eminent  artist,  and  had  been  formed 
under  his  own  particular  directions.  He  thought  it  impoesiUc 
that  two  such  rings  should  exist  in  the  world;  he  mused  in 
silence,  and,  fiinling  himself  unable  to  explain  a  mysteir  of 
•nch  consequence  to  his  peace  of  mind,  rase  abruptlv  from 
table  and  proceeded  towards  his  wife's  apartment  m  the 
tower.  Bot  the  crafty  kni^t,  who  had  mrefully  noted  the 
progress  of  the  suspicions  which  he  had  intentionaily  excited, 
nostened  to  the  lady  by  his  "privy  way,"  restored  the  ring, 
and  again  disappeared  after  a  moment's  conference.  The  eari 
entered  soon  Edler,  accosted  his  wife  with  great  aSiection, 
examined  her  fingers  one  after  another,  and  after  some  he«i- 
tation  requested  mt  to  show  him  the  ring  which  he  had  given 
'  Acqnilted.  ■  Cimiiiii(. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


EXBLT  BVOIJBK  MKTSICAL  SOJUUCBS. 

The  ImI;  tcM  him  t^ 


m  ■m?  Bnb;  nlned  o 
pUined  of  her  kng  and  strict  impiuOMMSt; 
trifled  with  hia  igytieaee  by  th«  moat  extn  „ 
■icHis  of  taudaum :  bat  findii^  that  her  aMuaaoea  [K^duoed 
ao  «ftet,  bkI  bo^  nnwilliiig  to  excite  hii  jealouaj  too  &^ 
riw  at  lengA  drenr  out  her  pane,  and  with  a  oareleaa  air  put 
Ae  triabet  into  his  hands.  Hw  evidence  was  too  strong  fat 
Us  donbta.  I^  Bimilaritr  of  the  two  lings  was  iudeed  astc^ 
nidiing;  bnt  thai  which  he  held  in  his  hands  was  certainly  no 
iUusios,  whereas  it  was  possible  that  hia  ^es  mieht  have 
deceived  him  lesnediiig  tint  whii^  ha  had  beheld  o     " 


knight's  fineer.  He  was  now  tvHj  satisfied,  solicited  the  for- 
giveness  of  ois  wife,  1^0  was  ntaat  siimitwl  hj  hia  penitence, 
and  staid  with  ber  till  tin  dawn  of  day  sHmnunied  Kim  to  bis 


119  mass,  he  seat  tar  the  knight,  and  prcnoeed  to 
kim  a  faniitiiig  VKrty  in  the  neigUiourii^  forest;  out  tte 
flwctirile  exoosed  hi—Jf  "  I  have  jmt  ieoei«<ed,"  said  he, 
"from  my  own  countrrthe  most  agreeable  tiding  My  peace 
is  Bade  witli  the  &mily  of  the  knight  whom  I  gtew  in  aiagle 
eOB^Mt,  and  my  mistvess,  whom  I  bave  long  and  paaeionatriy. 
lotsd,  has  hnfly  ooadesoended  to  be  the  bearer  of  the  good 
■ews.  H  my  hxd  wwld  be  pleaaed  to  dine  with  me  at  his 
nttm  from  the  field,  my  hap^iesa  and  hera  would  be  c<Hn- 
plete."  The  eaii,  afier  promising  to  attend  him,  departed  fiv 
tte  chase,  and  tbe  km^t  prefMred  to  accomplidi  the  va- 
mander  of  his  project. 

Having  first  oonveyed  bis  nustress  from  her  tower  to  his 
own  wartment,  he  fully  instracted  her  in  the  part  which  he 
desirea  ber  to  act,  and  tjien,  takinz  off  her  nsoal  dress,  assisted 
her  in  putting  on  a  rich  Hungarian  hatxt,  with  a  bead-dress 
io  dtaiged  with  oroameiits  as  to  alter  very  OMuadcrably  her 
whole  appeanuee.  Iliiis  aocootred  she  ezwcted  the  eail'a 
amnL  received  him  most  courteously,  pbced  him  by  ber  side 
at  taddc,  and  directed  hs  whole  discourse  to  him.  She  had 
aa  etfbctnaOy  disguised  her  yoice,  and  the  topics  on  which  she 
mdce  were  so  artiully  ckoaen,  that  for  a  time  be  felt  do  bos- 
pKi<m :  but  on  sarveying  her  feUnres  in  soooeasion,  and  oa 
iiiitiiig  Imt  eyes,  wlu<^  she  never  tnined  from  bim,  be  oonld 
Bst  help  thinkiBg  Aat  this  Hungarian  stranger  bore  a  singu- 
lar reeembiance  to  hia  own  wife ;  and  ihoogh  much  ashamed 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


TKE  SBVXK   WISE  VUIXRS.  447 

of  hw  oneamnesB,  he  could  not  view  widiont  emotioa  the  t«n- 
Aameea  vUch  d»  manifested  for  another.  He  reoollected 
tks  adrentuie  of  the  ring ;  lie  considNed  ^nb  abrngth  of  dM 
tower,  lite  key  of  whidi  was  safe  in  hia  podcet,  and  hia  ivaaoi 
wM  nti«6ed ;  but  his  heart  was  st^  \memy.  He  ioquiiMl 
into  the  name  and  character  of  the  beeutinil  stxaager,  a&d 
heard  from  thn  knight  a  story  so  plausible  as  ahnost  to  oror- 
cmoe  all  his  uneasineee ;  but  he  was  particuhaijr  vtjoieed  to 
hear,  both  from  the  knJ^t  and  fi/im  the  lady,  tint  it  «■■ 
their  intention  to  return  almoet  immediately  to  H\ai^ry. 
Tbe  dinner  at  length  was  finished,  and  the  earl  mechoMoally 
repaired  to  his  inSe'a  i^nrtment  for  the  pupoee  of  "■^■"'-g 
l^  agitated  spirits. 

la  tbe  mean  time,  a  fn-w  minates  being  suScioit  to  rid  tba 
lady  of  her  Ilangarian  oraaments,  and  to  invest  her  in  her 
naiul  dress,  she  was  replaced  by  her  lover  in  die  tower,  aad 
had  Aill  time  to  oompose  herself  before  the  arrival  of  her  bas- 
baad.  Never  in  his  life  bad  he  behdd  her  with  so  muA 
jdeasore  as  on  the  preaeait  occaaion.  He  gaxed  at  her  wilk 
an  attention  which  she  w^l  knew  how  to  interpret,  thon^ 
she  kindly  appeared  to  impute  it  to  his  afiection,  bimI  after  a 
kmg  scrutiny  oonvinced  himself  that  her  resemblance  to  'die 
Hungarian  beauty  was  moat  perfect;  but  that  their  ieatarea, 
though  apparently  oast  in  the  same  mould,  were  animated  Ij 
a  TCiy  difierent  expression,  and  that  the  humble  and  subnua- 
nve  air  of  his  gende  countess  was  &r  ateire  pleasing  than  the 
assured  and  confident  demeanour  of  his  friend's  mistreas.  By 
degrees  every  trace  of  his  former  doubts  and  jealousy  wm 
completely  obliterated ;  he  gave  way  to  his  fondness,  whkk 
was  returned  with  mudi  seeming  sincerity ;  and,  after  paseiag 
the  night  in  the  tower.^rose  in  the  mtunii^  fall  oi  oonfidencs 
in  the  fidelity  of  a  wife  whom  he  was  im  the  point  of  losing  o^  ' 
fctever.y 

No  Boooer  had  ha  quitted  her  to  gc  to  morning  ptayen 
dutn  tike*&uriit  again  conducted  her  to  his  own  house,  aad 
again  dressed  her  m  the  habit  of  the  preceding  day.  A  ship 
had  been  long  ready  for  him  in  the  haiboar,  and  had  received 
otL  board,  during  the  ni(^t,  the  whole  of  his  efleets.  IIm 
lady  therefbro  being  properly  disguised,  be  hastened  to  chnreh, 
ana,  when  mass  was  over,  accosting  the  earl,  requested  that 
he  wvuld  kindly  astost  at  the  ceremony  <tf  hi*  mairiage  to  hit 
tanaa,  to  whom  be  wisbod  to  be  soletnnly  nnitMl  \xBan  hit 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


448  XAKLY  EXOLIBH  MBTSICAL  B0KAKCX8. 

departure,  which,  the  wind  being  now  fair,  he  was  miwilliiig 
to  d^y.  The  earl  readily  consented,  and  dispatched  two 
officers  to  the  kni^t's  house  to  conduct  the  tady  to  church, 
whilst  he  eonvereed  with  hie  friend  on  the  Htate  of  the  conntry, 
and  on  the  meagnrea  which  would  be  requisite  to  insure  its 
fatiu«  prosperity.  The  maniage  ceremony  wa«  perftHmed 
with  due  solemnity,  the  earl  acting  as  sponsor ;  after  wliich 
they  marched  in  procession  to  the  sea-side,  where  the  unnw- 
pecting  husband,  taking  his  wife  by  the  huid,  asiiurted  her  in 
climbing  the  side  of  the  Tessel,  and,  when  on  board,  publicly 
presentM  her  to  the  Icnight  as  bis  bride,  and  recommended 
her  to  his  love  and  protection.  He  then  took  his  leave  and 
returned  to  the  ci^ ;  the  anchor  was  weighed,  the  sails  filled, 
and  a  brisk  and  &vourBble  gale  speedily  carried  the  lovers  to 
their  place  of  destinatioa,  leaving  the  husband  to  lament  at 
leisure  their  treachery  and  his  disappointment. 

Uazentius  ended  this  tale,  as  he  had  begmi  it,  with  the 
Assurance  that  Florentin  would  on  the  following  day  recover 
his  speech ;  the  intelligence  was  instantly  conveved  throu^- 
out  the  whole  city;  and  Diocletian,  who  loved  a  prot^tecy 
ahnoet  as  much  as  a  story,  participated  in  a  still  higher  d^ree 
than  any  of  his  subjects  in  the  general  curiosity.  The  em- 
press, had  she  been  provided  with  any  number  of  additional 
tales,  would  hare  found  it  no  longer  practicable  to  excite  his 
attention.  He  rose  at  the  dawn  of  day,  and,  after  hcftring 
mass,  proceeded  to  the  council-chamber  attended  by  his  peers, 
by  the  Seven  Wise  Masters,  and  by  a  crowd  of  bui^eeees. 
Shortly  aft<T,  his  eon  was  brought  up,  decently  dressed,  but 
pale,  weak,  and  emaciated ;  and,  after  saluting  his  fother  witJh 
due  respect,  addressed  him  to  this  efiect :  "  Your  wife,  sir,  is 
a  very  wicked  woman,  and  moreover  a  sorceress.  She  cast  a 
spell,  on  my  arrival  at  yonr  court,  in  virtue  of  which,  had  t 
opened  my  lips  before  the  e^tpimtion  of  seven  days,  I  should 
have  instantly  died,  and  my  excellent  preceptors  would  have 
been  sacrificed  to  her  malice.  All  this  I  fortunately  found 
recorded  in  the  moon  and  stors.  Hnd  I  not  taken  the  pre- 
cautions which  have  now  saved  rny  life,  you  would  have 
treated  me  as  a  &ther  in  this  neighboiu-hood  once  treated  hu 
son  who  was  predestined  to  surpass  him  in  wealth  and  power." 
"  Dear  son!''  replied  the  emperor,  "thy  words  delight  me.' 
Each  of  thy  preceptors  has  told  me  a  story  in  thy  behalf  and 
I  now  find  that  thou  olio  art  provided  with  one  of  theee  agree- 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


THE  SEVEir  WISE  KASTEBS.  449 

able  natntirea,  wMch  I  shtJl  doubtless  admire  beyond  the 
best  of  theirs.  I  tlierefbre  charge  thee,  as  thou  valuest  my 
blessing,  to  relate  it."  The  prince  bowed,  and  immediately 
began  ue  story  of 

TBB  RATBNB. 

At  It  sea-port  to  the  westward  of  this  city  lived,  some  time 
once,  a  merchant  who  by  numerous  voyages  had  acquired  a 
princely  fortune,  and  who,  preserving  a  taste  for  his  early  pro- 
fesaion,  frequently  amused  himself  during  the  summer  by 
sailing  from  ialand  to  island.  He  had  an  only  son,  to  whom 
he  bad  given  an  excellent  education;  and  like  young  man, 
though  only  fifteen  years  old,  had  so  &c  penetrated  into  the 
most  difficult  secrets  of  nature  as  to  have  acquired  the  lan- 
guages of  birds.  One  day,  while  the  iather  and  son  were 
■aOing  in  a  new  and  &Tourite  vessel,  a  pair  of  mvens  con- 
tinned  for  some  time  to  flutter  over  their  bends,  occasionaUy 
settling  on  the  masts  or  in  the  shrouds,  and  croaking  so  inces- 
santly that  the  old  merchant  was  much  disturbed  and  almost 
deafened  by  their  noise.  "  I  wish,"  cried  be,  "  since  I  cannot 
silence  those  vile  birds,  that  I  could  at  least  discover  the  sub- 
ject of  their  discourse!"  "That,"  leplicd  the  son,  "is  ad- 
dressed to  roe ;  tbev  have  been  telling  my  fortune,  and  they 
assure  me  that  I  shall  one  day  be  much  richer  and  more  power- 
ful thpTi  thou  art,  and  that  a  time  will  come  when  thou  shalt 
be  happy  to  support  the  sleeve  of  my  cloak  whilst  I  am  wash- 
ing ;  and  that  my  mother  will  be  pnrad  of  holding  the  towel 
to  wipe  my  hands."  "  Indeed ! "  exclaimed  the  &Uier.  "  Art 
tbon  so  Asomitented  and  ambit£ons?  But  I  will  soon  try 
whaler  the  Groakers  are  not  mistaken  in  their  prophecy! 
Witii  these  words  he  suddenly  caught  the  youth  round  the 
mist,  and  threw  him  headlong  into  the  sea ;  after  which  he 
siteted  his  ooune,  and,  atiU  boiling  with  indignation,  sailed 
bwktoport 

The  ytmtb  was  fortunately  aa  expert  swimmer,  and .  seeing 
an  island  at  some  distance,  exerted  himself  so  efiectuslly  that 
by  the  blessing  c^  Frovidenoe  he  at  length  reached  the  shore. 
But  the  island  was  uninhabited,  and,  during  four  days  whidt 
be  passed  on  it,  he  was  unable  to  procnre  a  morsel  of  fi>od; 
jet  &e  had  tbe  consc^atum  <^  receiving  assoranoes,  from  di£. 
«rant  sorts  of  birds  who  frequented  tbe  ialand,  that  his  trial 
wvuld  be  short,  and  that  ^ondenoe  would  nltimatdT'  rewaid 
i  a 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


ABO  EASI.T  XirSUSH  KCtBlCAI.  SOKUTCBt. 

liim  fbr  hi*  nAringa.  On  tlie  fitti  6aj  he  iimsannd  k  fiik 
ennan  in  hie  boat,  and  had  the  good  fintnne  to  attnet  his 
altention.  He  now  partook  ot  the  poor  man's  proTieiooia ;  bKt 
his  cntcrUuner,  having  no  means  of  supporting  him  in  fatMV, 
had  no  sooner  conveyed  him  to  land  than  he  sold  him  tn  a 
certain  lord  who  was  steward  to  the  king  of  the  country. 

This  momrch,  with  whose  name  and  dominions  wa  arc 
unacquainted,  was  at  that  time  tormented  by  a  very  angnbn 
nisfortnnc.  Hiree  rsTCna  tb^i^t  fit  to  bocinne  his  cooatBtt 
eatapniatma.  Whilst  he  wn^n  the  field  punning  his  ihiim 
ments,  they  fluttered  over  his  head,  and  croalKed  so  loudly  aid 
inoeesantly  that  the  poor  king  was  abaoat  stunned  by  their 
thrieks.  If  be  retired  to  his  palace,  tliey  established  thaoo- 
aelvea  nenr  his  window,  and  cwitinned  to  distraet  him.  It 
was  in  Tain  that  he  changed  his  lodging  from  nxan  to  room,  or 
from  palace  tA  palace ;  his  qoick-s^ted  and  winged  ■dvar> 
aaries  were  always  at  hand.  Hieir  lungs  wen  inde&t^^iMe. 
and  their  bodies  ai^ieared  to  be  inTulnereble. 

"Hie  king  in  no  place  mi^t  have  peace, 

For  of  their  noise  would  they  nought  cease, 

Nowther  for  bow  ne  for  sling; 

No  man  mi^t  them  away  bring. 
Vast  rewnrds  bad  been  oflfered  for  their  duatrautton;  the  king 
was  even  wilHng  to  bestow  the  hand  of  his  only  dan^itw, 
witb  half  of  his  kii^om  as  a  dower,  on  the  penon  who  oonU 
rekaee  bim  from  his  imp(»tBnal«  and  (damorons  i  iiwpaiiiii 
At  tengUi  he  determined  to  convoke  a  solann  pariioiaMit  of 
all  his  nobles  and  wise  men.  If  he  conld  obtainno  relief  ft«a 
his  ttnment,  it  would  be  some  allevialioa  to  talk  about  it. 

Dnring  this  time  the  merchant's  son  was  become  tlM  &- 
vnaritfl  slave  of  the  king's  steward,  and,  baring  bearA  tlK 
imiiiiiii  for  sammoning  the  coorention,  obtained  pennisnavto 
accompany  his  master  for  the  purpose  of  beholdin|>  the  aolBBa 
mtr.  The  monarch  made  a -long  and  dooneat  speech  de- 
aenbed  very  pnthedeaUy  the  diaoomfbft  of  beaniig  at  emy 
moment  of  the  day  three  boane  vraoes  irtiieh  were  per&atly 
imintelligible,  and  oonolnded  by  oSering  the  hand  of-  kaa 
^a^ter  and  a  pazticiiifttian  of  the  anvereign^  to  bim  wte 
oenld  relieve  him  from  nis  diaUuas.  Bat  his  coonselli»S'tMre 
Aent.  Ihe  archivea  of  that  coontry  did  not  afibrd  a  n^ 
«ana  m  potat,  md  it'^ipMrad  ibafaa  nTOM^AMa  th»«t*- 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


THE  SETEK   WISE  XAATEB3.  451 

Uii^iment  of  the  moiiiirchy,  had  hitherto  attempted  to  molest 
the  traoquillitj  oi  the  throne. 

The  youth  now  aMuied  his  master,  in  a  whiaper,  that  hs' 
wH  able  to  unraTel  this  mystery,  and  was  ready  to  do  so  on 
recciTiBg  inaa  the  king  a  solesm  acaimuioe  that  the  reward 
fiioald  not  be  wi^ihetd;  and  the  steward  having  announoed 
diia  proposal,  the  king  bound  himself  by  oath,  before  the- 
assembly,  to  perform  the  conditions.  "  Sir,"  said  the  yonth,- 
'^the  two  raveoa  who  sit  tog^ter  and  appear  to  be  engaged 
in  constant  dispute,  are  two  males;  and  the  subjeot  of  their 
altercation  is  that  old  female,  who  sits  ^>art  and  is  generally 
Blent,  though  she  sometimes  takes  her  share  with  considerable 
acrimony,  llie  elder  of  the  two  disputants  was  originally  her- 
mate;  but  during  a  year  when  com  was  extremely  scarce,  he 
OMMtdered  her  maintenance  as  too  troublesome,  and  aban- 
doned her.  She  would  probably  baTe  perished,  but  for  the 
EtttentionB  of  the  younger  raven,  wbo  fed  her  daring  the  time 
of  fkmme.  and  has  contmued  to  prove  to  her  his  teukr  attaeh- 
ment.  The  old  raven  has  since  become  onoe  more  enamoored 
of  her  cbarms,  such  as  they  are,  and  insists  upoM  renewii^ 
his  former  engagement;  but  neither  his  old  mistress  nor  hiS' 
young  rival  will  consent  to  his  claim.  Henee  their  incesMnt 
damour.  They  have,  however,  agreed  that  the  matter  shall  be 
decided  by  yonr  m^esty,  whoae  wisdom  and  equi^  are  well 
known  to  them,  and  who,  they  are  confident,  will  bestonr  on 
this  very  intricate  dispute  all  the  attentioo  which  it  meriti. 
'When  you  shall  have  pronounced  sentence,  they  will  imM- 
diately  quit  your  court  and  retire  into  the  forest." 

The  lung,  rejoiced  at  the  prospect  of  recovering  his  bnu^ 
cpiillity,  and  wiiHng  to  meot  the  good  opinion  of  the  i&fttiHl; 
referred  the  cause  to  bis  piirli«ment,  where  it  was  diMOSMd 
with  due  solemnity;  after  which,  being  sMisfied  witli  their 
aentence,  he  stood  up  and  puUidted  his  award,  "  that  the  old 
nnren  diould  ftnego  all  future  claim  to  his  first  matei  "11^ 
whom  he  had  shown  himself  deficient  in  aSbction  by  quitUng, 
her  in  the  year  of  famine,  and  that  she  should  become  the. 
lawful  mate  of  the  young  petitioner,  whose  love  and  oonstancy 
were  highly  laudable."  Scarcely  had  he  prtmounced  these 
words,  when  the  old  raven,  uttermg  a  furions  scream,  flew  off 
with  great  velocity,  and  the  happv  couple,  after  expressing  as 
-wen  as  they  ccniM  their  gratltooe  ttt  their  royal  judge,  de- 
parted in  on  opposite  iiaaAa:^ 

3  a  2 
D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


•83  B^^LT    SXOLISa    MCTBICAI.    B03UKCEB. 

Hie  jonth  now  rec^Tcd  the  hand  of  the  princvn  utudflt  the 
mihUBM  of  the  whcJe  coonciL,  who  were  much  pleased  witili 
Us  nsaci^;  bis  bride  was  ovei5ojed  at  being  united  to  m. 
■     ■      I  wtoi  •  ■       ' 


)  young  and  handsome;  and  the  old  king, 
wfao  ntained  an  inTotuntaiy  dre«d  of  the  whcde  featbexed 
ctMt)oo.r^le«lcdwith  gnat  delight,  that  under  thepnitectioD 
of  todi  a  son-in-law  he  might  bencdbrth  sleep  m  peace, 
vnn  in  the  midst  of  an  aTiaiy. 

The  hamuneM  of  this  chifd  of  (brtmie  was  now  eomj^ie; 
jet  he  co<ud  not  help  ie^ing  a  etroog  desire  to  bdxtld  tmce 
note  his  mother,  who  had  always  tieated  him  with  kindness, 
and  eren  the  btbrr  who  had  so  unjustly  thrown  him  into  tbe 
■M.  WhilBt  he  was  denBog  means  of  eeeii^  them,  a  visian. 
inlbnoed  him  that,  being  icdoced  to  poverly,  and  adnmed  of 
RBMining  amongst  the  witnewBo  of  their  famer  opnlence.  they 
kad  lately  HNskt  an  ahwnc  retreat  in  the  voj  city  which 
wsAnownsdeThiBgoTanmait.  Thosin(bnned,hedeq«tdKd 
two  eaJMnls  with  ndn  to  find  out  the  strangers,  and  to 
aanooBce  to  then  Aat  dae  prince  at  the  coantty  had  heaid  <k. 
dkor  arrivaL  and  intended  to  dine  with  thsn  im  the  fbUowinfr 
ixj.  Tbe  wtoniAed  n)a{de  aade  die  best  preparabcais  in 
iwir  pom  Iv  &•  KccpliaB  cf  dtarnyal  nsitant.  and,  wIkb 
I  pnpan^  pnmnti.d  him  with  water  to  wadi ; 


e  wife  pRsarted  tbe  tDweL 
pliecy  o^  die  ixTcna,  nhidt 
is  bdHT's  reocdectiaa.    The 

oli  Mochant,  who  thooria  UMseir  denttd  to  instant  desO. 

tMMd  p»le  and  tnaUed;  but  the  mince:.  iMvii^  mbnced 

yt  pamte,  ofdercd  them  to  be  lodged  with  him  in  tbe  palaee. 

wd  dning  the  irmiiinli.i  of  Aeir  Utcs  contiBned  to  cheriA 


e  CHBRea,  « 

t  tivtt  i£  a 


Plomtim.  hnrag  cvadaded  his  tale.praceeded  to  related 
~  •  -•  1^  »fc|^  d,  htiaf  eoofitrntcd  wiA  him. 

ikn.     Diodetian  thscfae 
on;  md  !**■  snhiects  of  all 
IMbi  Sfphnded  Oe^twe  of  tfe  senteH»— 
Her  ftrt  tbrr  feat  nnto  her  swire,' 
Aad  kt  her  W  is  m^dea  the  fiie; 


J  L,  Google 


THE  SETEIT   WISE  lUfiTEU. 

Thus  waa  the  lady's  ending  day. 
And  thus  waa  she- quit  her  jonm4e'. 
The  child  lived  with  great  honour. 
And  after  hie  &ther  waa  emperonr. 
And  ted  his  life  with  workes  wise. 
And  ended  seyn*  in  Ooddes  service. 
Thua-gate'  endeth  all  this  thing, 
Jeau  grant  iia  hia  blessing! 


FLORIOE  AND  BLADNOHKPLOUR. 


TbU  romance  is  nnallj  inppcued  to  be  of  SpanUh  origin.  The  earliest 
edition  of  it  noticed  in  Percel,  Bibl.  del  Rom.,  U  entitled  "  Floras  j 
Bluxraflor,"  in  4to.  en  Alcela,  ISIZ;  dT  which  ■  Frendi  tnnslation  wu, 
not  long  after,  pabliibed,  with  the  title,  "  Hiitoire  ■monmue  de  Fiona 
et  de  Blanchefleur,  tndnite  de  rSapagnol  par  Jacqnea  '^Dcent,"  in  8to., 
Faria,  1554,  and  Lyons,  1S71.  Hiii  wu  the  (roosd-work  of  the  elegant 
oom[MadiDni  published  by  H.  le  Comte  de  Treuan,  who,  in  ■  short  intra- 
(hiction,  eipreoea  hia  belief  tbat  the  Spaniah  metrical  romance  was  written 
about  the  beginning  of  the  nmlA  eenlnry,  a  iQppontion  too  extraTagant 
to  require  refotation.  We  may  be  almoit  certain  that  the  Spanish  poem 
ia  nothing  more  than  a  tranalation  or  imitation  of  a  Frendi  metriual  romance, 
composed  pmbably  in  the  thirteenth  centary,  and  rendered  into  English  la 
the  early  part  of  the  fimrteenth ;  a  copy  of  the  latter  being  still  extant  in 
the  Anchiulecli  MS.*  It  is  in  a  leiy  impertiEt  atate,  conatitiDg  of  850 
lints  only,  which  probably  formed  little  more  than  half  of  the  entire  poem : 
but  as  it  agrees  very  exactiy  with  M.  de  IVeaaan'a  abridgment,  I  hare  made 
use  of  that  work*  for  the  pnrpoae  of  completing  the  story. 


Durikg  the  time  that  the  Emperors  of  the  Weat  contioued 
to  hold  their  court  at  Rome,  one  of  them  had  a  nephew  named 
Priaeo  Perse,  preaumptive  heir  to  hia  throne,  and  already 
possesaed  of  large  domaina  in  Italy,  whom  hia  conduct  hod  so 
much  endeared  to  hia  subjects,  that  they  unanimoualy  wished 
to  sec  his  virtues  transmitted  to  a  new  generation,  and  eageriy 
promoted  his  nnion  with  the  beautiful  Topase,  daughter  u  the 

>  Day'a  work,  enterprise.  ■  Since.  ■  In  this  way. 

*  Another  copy  it  preserred  at  Canbridge,  printed  with  some  incorrect. 
'    neaain  Hartshome'aMetriealTaieB,  1829. 

>  It  ia  proper  to  apprise  the  reader,  that  in  borrowing  my  materials  from 
M.deTressan  IhsTebeen  (kr  from  wishing  to  imitate  the  graces  of  his  atyle, 
whidi  would  hare  Tery  ill  aocorded  with  the  remainder  of  the  ni 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


m  EAKI,Y  KirOUSH  MXTBIO.LI.  BOIUMCBI. 

dake  of  F^rara,  and  niece  to  &e  duke  of  Milan,  at  whose 
court  she  had  been  caieiiilly  educated.  Tvptx  had  henelf 
■ome  pretensions  to  ibe  imperial  throne,  bo  that  the  noble 
bmiliea  on  both  aides  were  well  disposed,  ftaa  pohtical  con- 
■iderationB,  to  pKunote  the  match;  and  the  yonng  perwma, 
having  been  seiaed  at  their  firat  meeting  with  an  irresistible 
passion  for  each  other,  the  marriage  wm  shortly  concluded, 
and  thej  received  the  nuptial  benediction  from  the  hands  of 
the  Pope,  together  with  a  profusion  of  indulgences,  consecrated 
rosaries  and  relics. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  delight  of  this  charmii^  couple 
during  the  first  three  weeks  that  followed  the  celelwation  of 
their  nuptials.  But  Prince  Perse  was  of  a  warm  and  impe- 
tuous disposition ;  the  fair  Topase  was  no  less  so ;  and  scarcely 
were  the  usual  festivities  attendant  on  such  a  union  at  aa 
end.  when  they  both  became  so  impatient  for  the  birth  of  a 
child,  that  the  day  was  scarcely  Iwig  enough  for  their  deTS' 
tions,  their  alms,  their  Tisits  to  the  seven  churches  of  Rome, 
and  the  propitiatory  ceremonies  by  which  they  attempted  ts 
procure  the  intercession  of  the  most  popular  saintK  and  most 
efficacious  relics  in  Rome :  yet  neither  gaints  nor  relics  thought 
fit  to  produce  the  pregnancy  of  Topase. 

lite  bride  and  bridegrocHU  were  almost  in  despair,  whm  a 
pious  Spaniard  ofaeerved  to  them  that  they  had  neglected  to 
request  the  assistance  of  one  saint,  whose  credit  in  heavea 
was  so  great  that  he  had  never  yet  met  with  a  refusal.  Hiis 
was  St.  James.  Prince  Ferae,  resiJved  to  repair  his  neglect, 
made  a  solemn  vow,  that,  if  the  great  object  of  his  wiehM 
could  be  accomplished,  he  would  instantly  undertake,  together 
-with  his  wife,  a  pilgrimage  to  the  shrine  of  St.  James  at  Com- 
postclla.  This  fatal  compact  with  the  saint  produced  its 
efiect.  On  the  following  night  an  angcl  appeared  in  a  dream 
to  Perse  and  to  Topase;  informed  diem  that  their  wishes 
would  be  gratified;  but  at  the  same  time  obscurely  foretold  a 
■ad  series  of  calamities  which  menaced  them  in  consequence 
,of  (heir  impatience  in  desiring  to  anticipate  the  designs  of 
Providence.  Both  were  much  startled  by  this  terrible  vision : 
but  at  tjteir  age  disagreeable  impressions  are  soon  cfiaced; 
and  as  the  apostle  faithfully  kept  his  promise,  they  proceeded 
to  fulfil  their  engagement,  took  leave  of  the  emperor,  and 
without  any  attendukts  set  off  for  Galicia. 

At  this  time  the  kings  of  Galida  and  of  Porb^al,  both  9f 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


VIABIOB  XSD  BLACKGHXniOaB.  45S 

B  CfaiktJBiis,  Slid  Iribiitsry  to  the  Su*c«n  king  ef 
,  had  eutered  into  a  le^ue  to  ehidie  <]ff  the  M^o> 
t  yoke;  and  at  the  reiy  moment  vhot  our  pilgriios 
attend  Galicia,  the  Saraoen  pcinoe,  wlmae  name  was  Felix, 
iucenaed  at  thia  inwlence  of  hia  Tassals,  had  sent  his  tioc^ 
tgii-"T*'  the  alliaj  irith  oidezs  to  lay  ^raste  the  eonntry,  to 
dwtaoy  all  the  male  inhabitants,  and  to  oany  into  c^tirity 
dw  wconen  and  children. 

nince  Perse  and  his  oharmii^  Topase,  nncooraous  of  dte 
danger  wHob  awaited  them,  &int  with  beat,  and  fatigued  by 
their  long  jonmey,  were  lepooing  themsdvea  at  the  rattranoe 
ot  a  ibiest,  when  the  Saiaoen  troops  rushed  npoB  them,  ami 
iTTttii*'T  mmdered  the  unhappy  prince  in  the  arms  of  hia 
vi&,  who,  on  walung,  ibund  herseu  covered  with  bis  blood. 
The  ofiicer  who  commanded  the  divisiim,  astraiiehed  at  the 
■bcanty  and  majestic  appearance  of  the  fair  pilgrim,  oonreyed 
her  immediately  to  Felix,  who,  oMupaMioaatiiig  her  youth 
aad  distress,  ordered  one  of  his  principal  oSceTa  to  eondiict 
hsr  to  his  queen,  to  whom  he  related  in  a  letter  the  calamity 
whid)  had  b^aUen  her,  at  the  same  time  requeating  that  the 
lovely  captive  might  receive  every  deviation  of  ber  miaeiy 
whiijt  the  compassionate  Icindneas  of  a  royal  mistxees  could 
bwtow. 

.lite  queui  of  Mmcia  was  ot  the  same  age,  and  nearly  as 
bMutiful  as  Topase :  ahe  thcrcfacc  readily  sympathized  in  the 
MDOwa  of  so  yonng  a  mourner,  and  treated  her  with  Buah 
.attentive  kindness  as  shortly  obtained  her  entire  oonfidence, 
and  drew  from  her  a  diselosure  of  her  real  name  and  rank,  and 
ot  the  motives  which  had  produced  her  Eatal  pilgrimage  to 
Qalioia.  From  this  moment  the  names  of  mistrem  and  slave 
were  abolished  between  them;  they  became  inseparable 
friends;  they  slept  in  the  same  chambo-;  and  the  querai,  who 
was  tiao  pregnant,  assured  her  dear  Topaac  that  their  childrm 
Should  be  e^oated  together  under  her  own  eyes,  and  be 
tao^t  from  the  beginniog  to  (Perish  tboae  aentimeats  <if 
affijctam  fi>r  eaoh  other  which  united  the  bearta  of  thctr 

The  two  {Rinceeses  were  deiivN«d  on  the  same  day,  which 
was  that  of  Palm-Sunday.  The  Christian  anbjeets  of  Felix 
wen  indulged  in  the  liberty  of  odebratu^  puUiely  tiieir 
pinaipal  festivals,  so  that  piJm-Ieaves  interwoven  with  gar- 
Uads  ot  Sovaa  were  exhitnted  in  aHthealMetB,  and  even 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


456  XAMLT  SHGLISH  METRICAL   XOIUKCES. 

irithin  the  mils  of  the  palsee ;  nnd  the  young  qtieeii,  in  allu- 
•toD  to  the  dATiVhichsheconndered  aa  the  feabval  of  fioweis, 
directed  that  ha  in&nt  son  ehoold  take  the  OAme  of  Florioe, 
and  that  the  dan^ter  of  her  friend  Topase  ahonld  bear  that 
of  Blanchefletu*. 

Bot  scarcely  had  this  unfortunate  mother  brought  her 
daughter  into  the  world,  yrbea  the  image  of  her  murdered 
husband,  tecnrring  in  all  its  horrors  to  her  iioagination,  en- 
tirely orercBme  the  powers  of  life  ahreody  weakened  by  sick- 
ness and  misery.  The  qneen,  in  hopes  of  consoling  and 
reviving  her,  canscd  the  two  children  to  be  brought  to  her; 
but  the  &inting  Topase,  at  tho  sight  of  her  in&nt,  whose  fea- 
tures painfully  recalled  to  her  Uiose  of  ita  father,  bt^an  to 
shed  tears  m  meh  abundtutee  thai  thetf  nearly  JSied  a  vauxr 
viKieh  wot  aeeidetUaUy  placad  hetidt  her.  Then  stretching  out 
her  arms  to  the  child,  she  exclaimed,  "O  my  daughter!  sole 
renmant  of  my  fbrmo'  happiness,  reoeive  from  thy  mother  the 
only  present  which  it  is  in  her  power  to  bestow  f  May  these 
tears  serve  as  the  water  of  thy  baptism,  and  bestow  on  thee 
the  blessed  character  of  Christianity!"  'With  these  words  tte 
poured  on  the  head  of  the  infiuit  the  contents  of  the  Eancer, 
pronouncing  at  the  same  time  the  words  of  the  sacred  cere- 
mony; conjured  the  queen,  as  a  last  &Totir,  that  she  would 
Krmit  the  diild  to  be  instrocted  in  tte  principles  of  the 
ly  religion  to  i^ch  she  had  just  devoted  it;  and,  having 
a{)piied  her  Upe  to  the  hand  of  h^  friend  and  bene&ctress, 
ottered  a  &int  scream,  raised  her  eree  to  heaven,  and 
expired. 

filanchefleur,  of  course,  was  unconscious  of  the  loss  of  her 
parent.  Educated,  together  with  Florice,  under  the  ^ee  of 
the  queen,  and  treated  by  her  with  the  ntmoet  tendemesfl,  she 
naturally  considered  his  mother  aa  her  own,  and  loved  him 
with  the  affection  of  a  sister.  She  acquired  with  facility  all 
the  accomplishments  which  were  anitabte  to  her  sex ;  while 
he,  by  an  uncommon  address  in  all  his  exercises,  announced 
the  future  prowess  of  a  perfect  knight,  and  early  displayed 
the  gallantry  and  tenderness  of  that  character  by  his  anxie^ 
to  obtain  the  applause,  and  to  secure  the  aSbctioDS,  of  his 
charming  foster-sister. 

Mohady,  a  ftmous  raollah,  welt-instructed  in  the  tenets  of 
the  Mahometan  religion,  and  zealous  for  its  success,  vras  chosen 
as  the  preceptor  m  the  young  prince,  and  was  much  8C8i>- 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


PLOfilCB  AMD  BL&TFVCBKTLOVB.  457 

4alifled  at  finding  tJiat  the  image  of  BlSncheflenr  was  tor  ercr 
.Etanding  ia  the  way  of  the  ideas  which  he  was  solicitotifl  to 
inculcate.  Florice,  though  fiill  of  reepect  for  the  foith  of  his 
parents,  could  not  be  penuaded  tliat  tEe  religion  of  Blancbe- 
Beur  was  abswd ;  and  was  still  leas  disposed  to  believe  that 
the  houris  of  Mahomet's  paradise  could  be  either  more  beau, 
tifhl  or  more  amiable  thui  the  channinK  girl  whom  he  had 
loved  from  his  cradle.  Mohady  stormed,  and  complained  to 
the  queen,  who  laughed  at  his  remonstmnoea :  but  Felix  was 
more  tractable;  and  the  zealous  mollah  sooceeded  in  con- 
vincing him  that  it  would  be  expedient  to  remove  Florice 
A:om  Ms  female  companion,  and  to  send  him  to  the  court  of 
his  imcle,  the  king  ^  Algarva,  who  resided  at  Montorio,  fiir 
the  completion  of  his  studies. 

Hie  young  prince  was  almost  in  despair  when  he  beard 
that  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  submitting  to  this  dccadAd 
banishment.  But  his  &tber  represented  to  htm  that  his  sin>e< 
rior  rank  demanded  from  him  superior  excellence ;  and  that 
the  stem  laws  of  chivalry  imperiously  required  from  the  can- 
didate for  its  honours  Ibat  he  should  have  been  disciplined  to 
hardships,  and  early  removed  from  the  indu^ence  of  the 
patemiJ  roof.  "  Oo,  fair  eon,"  said  he;  "  go  in  quest  of 
glory;  go,  that  thy  name  may  be  renowned;"  the  queen- 
added,  "  and  that  tiiou  mayest  deserve  and  obtain  thy  mis- 
tress!"  The  last  exhortation  determined  Florice.  who  was  of 
opinion  that  the  lover  of  Blanchefleur  ought  to  be  peerless  in 
valour  and  in  courtesy;  SO  that  he  consented  to  depart  for 
Montorio:  but  though  the  preparationB  for  his  journey  were 
already  made,  he  could  not  consent  to  go  till  he  had  taken 
leave  of  the  charming  Blancbefleur,  and  convinced  her  of  the 
regtet  with  which  he  tore  himself  from  her.  She  expressed, 
with  the  most  winning  simplicity,  her  auction  and  her  sor- 
row; and  drawing  from  her  finger  a  ring  containing  a  small 
talimnan,  "  Florice,"  said  she,  "  accept  this  as  a  pledge  of  our 
mutual  love ;  look  on  it  every  day ;  if  thou  seest  its  briUiancy 
tarnished,  it  is  a  sign  that  my  life  or  my  liberty  is  in  danger. 
But  obey  the  orders  of  thy  father;  I  doubt  not  thy  constancy 
nor  thy  readiness  to  assist  me  when  it  shall  be  necessary." 
The  approach  of  Felix  prevented  any  further  conversation. 

The  arrival  of  the  young  prince  was  celebrated  at  Montorio 
by  the  most  splendid  festivals  and  tonmamenta,  from  which 
Iwwcver  he  receiTed  no  salis&ction.    He  had  submitted  to 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


temdi  iammX.  ftm  »U  that  nndend  lift  agnofak,  bvt  habit 
flOnU  not  raomcile  bin  to  «zile.  His  onlfMniMenieatWMto 
(nltinte  )t  snail  garden,  in  wUdi  be  had  diapoaed  bocden  «C 
wfaite  flowoB,  to  as  to  tnoe  out  the  initials  «f  his  miiti'Bw'a 
BRHie;  hoe  at  day-break  lie  naai  to  cbant  Mme  em^Ma 
urtudi  be  bad  oompoaed  in  her  htnour;*  and  here  he  ma  oae 
diy  aaiyriaod  by  Hoba^.  at  a  mouent  i^md,  id  his  anxie^ 
t»  obtnin  the  band  gf  Blaodteflaar,  be  breathed  a  fnyet  tt 
^  Ood  of  the  PliiiaJiaiiii  aa  his  moat  pvwerfal  tatereeaaor. 

Hoha^  became  forions.  He  inatandy  diapatched,  hy  a 
•aafidential  Beeaenfer,  a  letter  to  Fedix,  in  -which  be  atsled 
Ae  ■ecearity^  of  aepaiatiiw  nanchofleur  for  ever  from  her 
lavtr,  whcae  seal  for  the  IfahcmetaB  fiuth  wis  on  the  pm&t  tj( 
yiddii^  to  bia  affection  for  that  daagenma  beauty.  A  aecoKl 
tetter,  addreaaed  to  Ajonb,  principal  Iman  of  the  great 
weaqoe,  idated  alt  Ae  dnmmataneea  whidi  bad  paeaed,  and 
l^ud  that  prieet,  as  he  mined  the  interesta  of  reli 
oootrire  by  some  maana  or  other,  the  desbw!lio&  <£  I 

Fdix,  pnnid  ot  hia  deaeent  from  Omar,  and  a  bigot  from 
efceation,  was  well  dispoaed  to  ctmply  with  the  nqneat  of 
llcAady,  bat  was  nnable  to  devise  a  pretest  for  his  oosdnct, 
when  Ajoab  famiahed  him  with  it.  BlmchefleuT  was  in  the 
habit  of  laisiiig  poultry,  with  which  ahe  sometiiaes  supplied 
the  royal  taUe;  and  the  wicked  Ajoab,  having  bribed  a 
aerrant  to  oonTcy  aome  p(»aan  into  tbe  body  of  a  chiAep 
'rtiicit  she  had  aent  to  the  king,  accnacd  her  of  an  intenticii 
to  deatioy  her  former  protect^*,  and  sv^Kirted  the  diaige  so 
pawcifo%  by  his  influence  with  the  judges,  that  the  innoeeat 
victim  of  his  malice  was  unaniniowly  ontdeniiied  to  Bnfisr 
dea^,  unless  ahe  shmdd  find,  before  the  day  of  exeeutioit,  a 
bi^ht  who  should  Tentnre  to  asBeit  her  innoceaee. 

Whilst  this  waa  r^i^iT^  in  the  court  of  the  king  of  Umroia, 
an  erent  took  place  at  Hontorio,  which  awakened  Fhnioe 
from  the  ^tathy  and  indifierenee  into  which  the  abeEmoe  Of 
his  misb^ss  had  plunged  him.  Two  Mocniiih  hnighls,  ^rtw 
had  signaliied  themaelvea  by  a  eerisee  of  adrentures  in  Afriea, 
aniTed  in  tbe  coontry  of  A^«r?ii,  and  dispatohed  a  heraldto 

'  Tlie  Venn  which  M.  de  Tnsnn  bu  pat  into  tbe  Bunlh  of  Ftoricc  are 
*Ry  cl^ut,  ud  hne  been  with  eqnii  elegance  tiaulMed  b;  tbe  late 
Mr.  Wtj.    l%ej  are  ta  1m  ftmiid  in  tbe  leami  ndniBe  of  hii  FiUisn, 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


iriOmiCK  AJrs   KUUKCKXI'I.OTIB.  4S9 

tfaa  eonit  of  ti>e  king,  it^MKncluiig  him.  viUi  bkving  degClie- 
ntnd  fiom  the  Taloor  of  the  arigntal  Anbo,  and  defying  hta 
b«t  knights  to  a  trial  of  their  proweat.  The  diallenge  was 
•oeented;  two  knights  wete  deputed  to  chastise  the  inBtdenoe 
of  these  strangers,  bnt  they  &i]cd  to  retain;  two  more  were 
sent :  but,  as  they  also  disappeared,  the  wamorg  of  Montorio 
beoame  less  anxious  to  encounter  the  unknown  champioos, 
and  on  the  third  day  t^  herald  repeated  his  mesHige  wuhaut 
exciting  mucb  impati^ice  in  hla  nearcrs.  But  Ftorice  wu 
M«r  pieMiit,  and  addrwaing  himself  to  the  herald,  "  Return," 
aaid  he,  "to  thy  maaieis,  and  aay,  tltat  the  oourt^ey  and 
cdkntry  which  reign  in  this  court  are  the  best  pledges  ibr 
Me  courage  and  honour  of  its  knights.  Say  too  that  I  am 
pr^iaied  to  attack  thy  two  champions,  and  to  punish  liieir 
aodaoity." 

Hie  prince  now  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  his  uncle, 
nqaestmg  tiie  hoacnir  of  beii^  inunediately  knighted,  that 
he  might  enoonnter  tliese  Aiaba  of  the  Deeert,  and  prove  to 
litem  diat  he  was  no  unworthy  desoeudant  of  the  illustrious 
Kaled.  The  king  jeyAilly  peiformed  the  ceremony,  dressed 
bim  in  his  own  armour,  and  put  into  his  hands  tlie  Tictorions 
award  of  Kaled,  which  he  had  oorefuUy  preserred  in  his 
treasury.  A  superb  ItToonsh  courser  was  uien  presented  to 
binii  be  vaulted  into  the  saddle,  and  skcrtly  artiTed  at  the 
tents  of  his  antagonists. 

The  two  knights,  though  little  skilled  in  courtesy,  Kad 
however  too  much  honour  to  unite  in  attacking  a  sin^ 
■dTersary,  and  presented  themselves  in  succession.  The  first 
assailant  broke  his  lance  against  the  shield  of  Floricc.  and 
was  himself  thrown  to  the  ground.  The  second  reasted  the 
-shock,  and  was  not  overcome  till  after  a  long  and  obstinate 
conflict;  bnt  the  youth  and  activity  of  Floricc  at  length 
prevailed ;  and  the  geueroHtty  with  which  he  used  his  victory 
having  gained  the  esteem  and  admiration  of  both  his  enemies, 
they  willing^  proceeded  with  him  to  liberate  their  prisoners, 
and  promised  to  confess  before  all  the  ladies  of  Montorio. 
that  the  conrtesy  inspired  by  their  charms  tends  to  exalt  and 
improve  all  the  virtues  of  chivalry. 

At  the  moment  when  Florice  was  enjoying  his  victory,  the 
article  glory  of  which  he  secretly  attributed  to  his  lovely  mis. 
ttSM,  and  was  stoopiiig  to  kiss  the  talisman,  which  he  had 
moived  as  the  ple^  of  her  affection,  he  beheld  with  horror 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


460  XAUT  xirai.iBH  xetricu.  soiu.itczs. 

and  Borprue  its  blackened  and  opaque  gni&oe,  whiob  appeared 
to  exliibit  an  appearance  of  smoke,  with  occssioiial  flaahee  of 
flftmc.  He  shuddered,  tamed  pale,  uttered  an  exclamation 
of  hoiror,  bunt  from  the  arms  of  his  new  friends,  rushed  to 
hie  hone,  sprung  into  the  saddle,  end  disappeared  in  an 
instant 

Haring  proceeded,  widunit  stopfnng,  during  the  whole  of 
that  day  and  of  the  following  nig^t,  he  arriTed  at  day-break 
at  the  capital  of  Uuicia,  and,  cMwealing  himself  behind  a 
turret  till  the  gates  were  opened,  entered  tte  city  unperoeiTed. 
Already  a  string  of  carts  loaded  with  wood  began  to  move 
dirou^h  the  streets,  preceded  by  troops,  and  by  executioners 
carryu^  torches.  In  the  rear  of  the  procesdon  was  a  wa^on 
beanng  a  female  covered  with  a  black  veil  and  loaded  with 
chains;  a  cadi  bearing  a  long  scroll  marched  behind;  and  n 
second  troop  of  armed  men  dosed  the  march.  Florice,  again 
•orreying  Ms  talisman,  perceived  it  to  be  more  clouded  uum 
ever.  He  lowered  the  vizor  of  his  helmet,  rode  up  to  the 
waggon,  and  with  a  fiiltering  voice  exclaimed,  "  Who  are 
you?"  "Ah!"  replied  the  female,  "IcaU  to  witness  my 
Ood  and  my  Redeemer  that  Blancheflenr  is  not  guilty!"  The 
voice  pierced  his  soul.  Drawing  his  sword,  and  tlu«atening 
with  instant  death  the  first  man  who  should  disobey  his  com- 
mands, he  ordered  the  escort  to  stop ;  and  having  questioned 
the  cadi,  and  learnt  from  him  the  atrodous  calnmny  preferred 
against  his  mistress,  he  exclaimed,  "  l^itor  Ajoub!  be  it  my 
task  to  confound  and  punish  thee,  and  to  succour  unprotected 
innocence  I  Go,  cadi,  say  to  Felix  that  an  onlcnonii  knight 
demands  surety  in  his  court,  and  presents  himself  to  defend 
Blancheflcur,  and  to  fight  her  accusers." 

The  laws  of  chivalry  imposed  upon  Felix  the  necessity  of 
ordering  the  combat;  he  therefore  sent  fbr  Ajonb,  and  com- 
municated to  him  the  defiance.  Ajoub  was  neither  of  an 
n^  nor  of  a  profession  suited  to  a  diampion;  hut  he  had  a 
son,  not  less  ferocious  than  himself,  whose  giant  ^se  end 
Btrengtii  had  already  raised  him  to  a  considerable  command 
in  the  armies  of  Felix,  and  who  readily  undertook  to  support 
his  father's  quarrel.  The  lists  were  soon  prepared.  The  son 
of  Ajoub  llirew  down  his  gauntlet,  and  repeated  aloud  the 
accusation  against  BlancheiQeur,  whilst  Florice  exclaimed. 
"Traitor,  Utou  Uest  in  thy  throat!  bdold  me  ready  to  mani- 
tain  my  assertion."     A  fire  was  immediately  kindled  at  the 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


0  BLAUNCHEFLOUB.  461 

cxtremi^  of  the  lists;  two  waggons,  in  one  of  which  was 
pkccd  Ajoub  and  in  the  other  BUncbeflenT,  stood  together 
on  the  outside  of  the  barriers,  and  the  whole  space  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  mimerous  guard  of  soldiers. 

The  two  champions  advanced  from  the  opposite  extremities, 
conducted  fay  their  sponsors.  That  of  Florice  was  a  young 
knight  named  Selim,  who  had  recognised  the  prince  under 
his  disffoise,  and  had  demanded  permission  to  attend  him. 
The  ju^;e  ot  the  tournament  then  gave  the  signal;  and  the 
combatants,  having  shattered  their  bnces,  drew  their  swords, 
and  bc^an  the  mortal  conflict.  Florice,  with  great  coohicss, 
parried  the  blows  of  his  adversary,  and  patiently  waited  for 
nie  most  &TOiirabIe  moment  of  making  his  attack ;  but  his 
horse,  having  received  a  wound  in  the  neck,  became  ungovern- 
able, and  bore  him,  in  spite  of  his  efforts,  to  the  very  edge  of 
ibe  Hats  where  stood  me  wa^ne.  Bknchefleur,  drawing 
ande  her  veil,  cried  out,  "  Ah,jFloTice!  why  art  not  thou  here 
to  assist  me?"  whilst  Uie  son  of  Ajoub,  redoubling  his  blows, 
anticipated  an  easy  victmy.  But  the  scene  was  quickly 
changed.  The  prince  determined  to  relieve  the  alarms  of  his 
mistress,  exerted  his  whole  powers :  every  stroke  of  his  sword 
was  followed  by  torrents  of  blood ;  his  arm  seemed  to  move 
with  the  rapidly  of  lightning,  and  his  adversary  was  already 
covered  with  wounds;  when  Florice,  putting  up  a  short 
prayer  to  the  God  of  ihe  Christians,  aimed  a  terrible  blow  at 
the  unwieldy  son  oE  Ajoub,  which  separated  his  head  from 
bis  body.  The  fitther  at  the  same  moment  springing  frvm  the 
hands  of  his  guards,  rushed  towards  the  prince,  who,  with 
another  blow,  sent  his  head  to  accompanj  that  of  his  son.  A 
thonsand  voices  at  cmce  proclaimed  the  mnocence  of  Stanche- 
fleur,  who  was  borne  in  triumph  to  the  queen,  at  the  same 
time  that  a  young  slave  of  Ajoub,  throwmg  himself  at  the 
feet  of  Felix,  confessed  that  he  hod  prepared  by  his  master's 
orders  the  poisoned  chicken;  upon  wluch  the  body  of  the 
abucions  luuui  was  immediately  consigned  to  the  flames. 

The  triumph  of  innocence  was  now  complete;  but  Florice. 
aware  of  the  dangers  which  might  attend  a  longer  stay  in  his 
ftthci's  capital,  having  kissed  the  hands  of  the  lung  and 
queen  as  well  as  of  Blancheflcnr,  eniressed  by  signs  his 
gratitude  to  &e  &ithfnl  Selim,  and  setting  spuis  to  his  horse, 
immediately  quitted  the  city  and  plun^d  into  the  fbrest. 
Selim  then  e:qdained  to  Blancheflenr,  who  acanetf  dared  to 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


463  IkXLT  XHOLISU  MKTBICAL   BOVMOKB. 

bope  dial  h»  lot«r  had  been  her  deHvenr,  the  reasons  vriudr 
taJM  neeessitated  liis  immediate  departore,  and  promised  to  go 
Till  join  hifl  maater,  for  the  purpoM  of  concertiiig  witlt  hoa 
the  moat  probable  means  of  seenring  their  fdtore  coircspood^ 

TICMice  returned  with  as  nnicb  epetH  as  poasiUe  to  Htm- 
torio,  irtiere  he  found  his  uncle  not  a  little  alarmed  by  his 
afaaenoe.  His  bloody  ansonr  and  wounded  horse  exhibited 
proofe  of  his  haring  foond  an  opportonity  of  aignaliiing  his 
TalouT;  bnt  as  he  persisted  in  refnsin^  to  r^te  hia  adventure, 
his  uncle  abstained  from  harassing  him  with  useteaa  inquiries, 
and  satisfied  himself  witJa  ezpressiag  the  most  nnfeigned  j<^ 
at  his  retnrn. 

Bnt  die  ooDstant  anxietj  which  prejred  upon  Qk  mind  of 
licorice  soon  afibcted  his  health,  and  prodneed  a  dangeroca 
fercr.  Spain  at  that  time  poaseesed  the  beat  physicians  in 
£nrope;  and  the  sultan  of  Algarva havin|;  procond  for  his 
ne^tew  the  assistance  of  the  celebrated  ArerTo^  who  resided 
at  the  oonrt  of  Cordon,  that  able  man,  after  rcliering  the 
worst  symptoms  of  the  complaint,  succeeded  in  discovo-ing, 
and  rdated  to  the  sultan,  the  real  cause  of  the  disease.  l%o 
■ultan,  anxions  for  Uie  recovery  of  his  nephew,  immediately 
wrote  to  the  king  of  Hnrcia  a  most  pressing  letter,  in  whid 
he  conjnred  him  to  send  to  his  court  the  beautiful  Blandie- 
flenr;  bat  this  Idnd  measure  nrodnced  an  eSeet  the  moot 
oppoeite  to  his  intentions.  Feiiz,  &r  leas  anxious  for  the 
iMpEHness  or  even  for  the  health  than  fi^  tite  rdigions  tenets 
of  his  son,  determined  to  fi^ow  withont  loss  i^  time  tbo 
advice  of  Hohady;  and.  for  the  purpose  of  insoring  the  final 
aeparatioa  of  Florice  and  Blanchefleur,  ordered  the  unfortu- 
nate gill  to  be  seized  and  carried  off  to  the  port  of  Cartbagena, 
when  she  was  soJd  as  a  slave  to  some  Greek  mrachants,  whv 
were  then  ready  to  set  sail  Ibr  Alexandria.  The  merchants, 
igoieed  at  obtaining  such  a  prey,  instantly  embarked  with' 
h^,  and,  the  wind  being  bir,  soon  landed  with  her  in  F^pt: 

The  qneen  of  Mnrcia.  justly  indignant  at  the  insult  o^«d 
to  heraelf,  in  seizing  as  a  prisoner  any  one  so  immediately 
vnder  her  protection,  but  mnch  more  ineeraaed  at  the  cmdtf 
of  her  husband  to  the  two  persons  who  were  most  dear  to  her, 
overwhelmed  FVlix  wift  icnoadies.  But  it  was  too  late;  and 
the  crime  was  Bceompiished.  SeUm  fiew  to  acquaint  nones 
inth  his  oitsfortnne;  and  the  prince,  vrimwaaaheadyiuCjiMwd 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


rioaicE  ASS  BiuLDiroHzn.oTTs.  463 

bjr  hia  ring  (tf  Bome  impending  mischief,  ioatantly  took  hone, 
and,  hastening  home,  was  myBterioiuly  introduced  hy  Sdim 
to  tile  qneen'a  aparment. 

However  unwiUing  to  riek  a  long  s^MratJoa  from  her  boo, 
this  tender  mother  conld  not  disapprove  of  hia  departore  in 
search  of  Blanchefleur.  She  thereioTe  embraced  him,  gave 
bim  her  blessing,'  and  drawing  a  ring  from  her  finger,  "  Have 
now,  lief  Bon,"  said  she  "this  riog.  Whilst  thou  preseryest 
it,  neither  fire  shall  bum,  nor  water  drown,  nor  weapon  injure 
thee,  and  all  thy  want*  shall  be  instantly  supplied."  Plorice, 
having  gratefully  ace^ited  the  ring.  toMc  a  t^der  leave  of  his 
mother,  and  before  diiyl»eallc  aet  c^  irith  Setim  for  Cartha- 
gena. 

Tliongh  disguised  as  merehanta,  the  yonng  prince  and  Iw 
chamb^lain  travelled  with  considerable  magnificence;  and, 
being  arnred  at  the  port,  took  up  their  lodging  in  one  of  die 
principal  houses  in  the  city,  w£ere  they  were  served  wiA 
great  deference  and  respect,  and  oooapied  the  principal  sestit 
at  table. 

All  that  therein  were 

All  they  maden  glad  cneer; 

And  ate  asd  dnmk  each  one  with  other: 

Ac  Florioe  thon^t  all  another. 

%at  ne  drink  ne  mi^tt  he  nought. 

On  Blanchefleur  was  all  his  thought 
The  air  of  grandenr  which  disttngmBhed  him,  and  the 
settled  melancholy  of  his  demeanour,  soon  attntoted  the  eyes 
and  awakened  the  cnriost^  of  his  hostess,  who  began  by 
observing  to  her  huBfannd  that  the  elegant  stoanger  was  cer- 
tainly no  merchant;  and,  finding  her  remark  disregarded, 
addressed  her  discourse  to  Florice  nimself : 

"  Child,  full  of  monraing  I  thee  see; 

Thus  sat  hendn,  this  endeidai,' 

Blancheflonr,  that  &ir  may ; 

Herein  was  that  maiden  boo^t. 

And  over  the  sea  she  was  y-tooog^t^ 

To  BabilOyne  ther  will  her  bri^. 

And  sell  hat  to  uuser  other  to  king; 

Thou  art  alike  her  of  all  thing, 

Of  semtlant,  and  of  mourning 

Sot  thou  art  a  man,  andeb»is  aaaid:" 

Thus  th&  wilt  to  Flfsioe  said. 
I  Hen  bqiss  tbs  nwtrinl  fn«awnt  *  OiUt  iaj. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


464  KABLY  EKGLISH   HSIBIC^L  SOMUTOBS. 

Tho  Florice  beard  his  leniitn  neren,- 

So  blithe  be  was  of  that  eteven,' 

That  his  beart  became  all  ligbt. 

A  cup  of  gold  he  let  fill  right; 
"  Dame,"  be  said,  "  this  bam*  is  thine. 

Both  the  gold  aod  the  wine ; 

Both  the  gold  and  the  wine  eke. 

For  thou  of  m^  leman  speak : 

On  her  I  thought,  for  her  I  fight. 

And,  wist  I  where  her  find  I  might, 

Tbo  should  no  weather  me  asaoine,' 

That  I  ne  sbal  her  seek  at  Bahiloine." 
The  trarellen  passed  only  one  night  at  Carthagenii,  and, 
embarking  next  morning  with  a  &vonTuble  wind,  shortly 
arriTcd  in  Africa,  where  the  prince,  "  on  reaching  the  land 
where  bis  leman  resided,  thought  himself  in  Paradise."  He 
COuU  not,  at  first,  discover  any  traces  of  his  mistress;  but  he 
Vas  told  that  the  amiinl  of  Babylon  had  proclaimed  a  magni- 
ficent festival,  and  be  thought  it  certain  that  at  sacb  a  festival 
be  must  discorer,  m:  receiTe  intelligence  about,  the  peerless 
Btanchefleur. 

On  bis  way  to  Babylon  he  reached  another  fiur  city,  where 
the  host  and  hostess  were  no  less  courteous  than  those  of 
Cart&^ena,  and  again  acquired  the  certainty  that  bis  pursuit 
was  properly  directed.  Here,  too,  whilst  be  sat  at  a  repast 
which  bis  grief  of  mind  prevented  ^'"i  from  tasting. 

Then  spoke  uie  loverd  of  that  inn. 
"  Ihos  sat,  this  other  day,  herein. 

That  bire  maid  Blancheflour, 

Both  in  hall,  and  eke  in  bower, 

£ver  she  mad  mourning  cheer. 

And  bemente*  Florioe  her  lief  sire. 

Joy  ne  bliss  ne  had  she  none, 

Ac  on  FloricB  was  all  her  moan." 

Florice  het^  a  cup  of  silver  white, 

And  a  mantle  of  Scarlett 

Y-panned  all  with  menivere,T 

And  gave  bis  hostess  there. 
"Have  this,"  be  said,  "to  thine  honour. 

And  thou  it  mig^t  thank  Blanchefiirar." 

■Nimed.    ■S<rand.    >HMia.    *  Fiwraat,  eica«.— Fr.    *  Banoued. 

*  Took.      >  Lined  with  mminr,  (man  nir,  Fr.)  or  grwj  (or. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


TLOBICE  AND  SLAUNCKXFLOrS.  465 

He  iben  proceeded  to  question  hie  host  and  hoBtesB,  and  was 
told  that  his  mistress  had  certainly  been  purchased  by  the 
amiml  of  Babylon,  that  he  paid  for  her  three  shekels  full  of 
gold,  and  that  all  who  had  witnessed  her  incomporahle  beauty 
were  persuaded  that  she  was  destined  to  be  hia  queen, 

Florice,  after  passing  a  sleepless  night,  determined  before 
bis  departure  to  ask  the  advice  of  his  kind  host  concerning 
the  most  practicable  means  of  obtaining  an  introduction  to 
Blanchefleur;  but  the  good  man  had  already  told  all  that  he 
knew,  and  could  only  Ekdvise  him  to  consult  a  friend  of  his, 
who  dwelt  by  the  side  of  a  bridge  on  the  road  to  Babylon, 
and  at  a  short  distance  from  that  ciw.  At  the  same  time,  he 
drew  from  his  finger  a  ring,  which,  he  said,  would  serve  as  ao 
introduction  to  his  friend:  and  the  prince,  having  thankfitlly 
accepted  the  ring,  and  rewarded  his  host  with  a  magnificent 
present,  proceeded  on  his  journey. 

The  burgess  to  whom  he  was  addressed,  and  whose  hospit- 
able mansion  was  pointed  out  by  Ihe  bridge,  was  jiamed 
Dayre,  He  was  a  man  of  great  wealth  and  politeness,  and 
having  beheld  the  ring  whic^  the  prince  brought  with  him  as 
a  token,  entertained  him  sumptuously,  and  ofibred  his  best 
assistance  to  relieve  him  from  the  anguish  which  seemed  to 
prey  upon  his  spirits.  Florice.  thus  encouraged,  revealed 
to  Tii™  the  secret  of  his  birth,  informed  him  of  his  passion  for 
Blanchefleur,  related  to  him  her  mifortunate  history,  and 
ended  by  conjuring  him  to  suggest  the  means  of  obtaining  an. 
interview  witb  her.  Dayre,  who  with  some  reason  considered 
the  young  man's  project  as  tho  suggestion  of  madness, 
endeavoured  to  dissuade  him  from  the  enterprise  by  laying 
before  him  a  picture  of  the  amiral's  power  and  wealth.  "  My 
son,"  said  he,  "  thou  seekest  thine  own  destruction.  The 
amiral  is  the  suzerain  of  at  least  fiitv  kings,  all  as  powerfnl  as 
thy  royal  father;  yet  should  they  all,  with  their  united  forces, 
attempt  to  gratify  thy  wishes,  they  would  be  unable  to  wrest 
thy  raistrees  from  his  bands.  Babylon  itself  is  a  populous 
kingdom  inclosed  in  a  city.  It  is  sixty  miles  in  circuit;  it 
contains  twen^  castles,  so  vast  that  each  is  equal  to  a  market- 
town  ;  the  walls  are  also  protected  by  a  hundred  towers,  any 
uie  of  which  would  resist  all  the  forces  of  a  mighty  monarch; 
"  And  though  all  the  men  that  beth  ybom, 
Hadden  it  upon  their  death  y- sworn. 
That  shontd  win  thy  may  so  soon 
As  from  the  heaven  h^h  the  son  and  moonl 
2  H 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


466  UKLT  nroxisa  xktbicai,  bomavces. 

'■Hie  towra',"  Gontiiincd  be,  "in  which  die  womai  are 
coBfioed.  is  a  thousand  toiaes  in  Ini^  l^  a  hundred  in 
brrndth;  its  materials  are  the  purest  marble,  and  a  Biottanr  so 
baid  that  no  eteet  can  cut  it: 

"  And  the  pomel'  above  the  kod. 
Is  j-«rougfat  with  so  mndi  lede,* 
Ihat  men  no  firen  o'night  bom. 
Neither  torch  nc  lanteme. 
Such  a  pomd  was  never  bigonne,* 
It  shineth  o'night  so  o'day  doth  the  sua. 
"The  women's  apartiDratts,  four-aiid-twaity  in  number,  nx 
guarded  bj  eunuchs,  whom  do  bnbe  can  tempt  from  the  &idi- 
IVil  disdbarge  of  their  duty.     Indeed,  were  they  negligent  of 
thrar  charge,  it  would  be  impossiUB  that  th»r  oime  shoold 
escaipc  detcctioii.  as  the  morals  of  these  ladies  are  pnAM^ed. 
OS  you  sball  hear,  by  powerful  enchantroentB.  Vou  must  bow- 
that  die  Mihan  sdectB  a  new  wife  erciy  yev,  and  Um;  oaaao- 
BJes  obwrred  en  the  occasion  are  as  ffiUows: 

**  then  shall  mm  fetch  down  off  the  stage,* 

All  the  maidens  of  parage.* 

And  bring  ban  into  a  orcbaid. 

The  birest  of  all  middelard.* 

Abont  the  orchard  goeth  a  waD, 

llie  wont  Btone  is  chiystal. 

Then  mm  may  seien.  on  the  stone, 

Mochd  of  this  wmrld's  wisdom. 

And  a  well  there  sprii^eth  in, 

Utal  is  wraoght  with  mochel  gin 

The  well  is  (rf  mochel  price ; 

The  stream  eooicth  from  Paradise. 

The  gmrel  in  the  ground  of  pte<9oas  slaiM, 

And  «f  Tiitue.  y-wis,  each  one. 

Of  gaphiies.  and  of  &udaines, 

IW  onyxes  and  cidt^faedoines ; 

Then  is  the  water  of  so  moehel  ere,' 

Gif  there  ctune  any  maiden  that  is  foriaie.* 

And  bow  to  the  grounde, 

Kor  to  waschen  her  houile. 

The  water  will  yell  as  it  were  wodp. 

And  became  on  ho-  ao  ted  so  bkMd! 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


V^Uch  miuden  the  water  &ietii  oa  so, 

She  shall  soon  be  fordo '.' 

And  thilke  that  ben  niBidms  clean. 

They  may  hem  wtshe  of  Hm  rena;' 

Hie' water  will  erne'  atill  and  dear. 

Shall  it  hem  make  no  dangere. 

At  the  well-heved*  thea«  stant  a  tree. 

The  ftiiest  that  may  oa  earth  be ; 

It  is  y-deped  the  tree  of  lore. 

For  flowers  and  bloasonu  beth  m  abvn. 

And  tiiOke  tiiat  clean  maidCTM  be, 

Men  shaU  hem  bring  nnder  tluit  ttee. 

And  which  bo  fidJeth  on  that  flvirar. 

She  shall  be  chosen  qucMi  with  koaoar. 

And  gif  tiiere  any  maiden  is. 

That  tiie  amyral  halt'  of  moat  priee, 

Thti  flower  ^lall  on  her  be  went. 

Through  srt  and  throogh  enchantement. 

Thns  he  cheaeth  throi^h  the  flower. 

And  erer  we  hearkeneth  when  it  be  Blandieflonr." 
Florice,  having  foreseen  considentble  difficulties  in  the 
aanwitioii  of  his  enterprise,  had  listened  with  much  anxie^, 
bat  without  despair,  to  the  greater  part  of  this  recital ;  but  at 
its  txMkclasion  he  lost  all  coursge,  and,  fiuicying  that  he 
Steady  saw  his  miatzesa  in  the  arms  of  the  detest^  antiral. 
Bank  lifeless  to  the  ground. 

The  bmevolent  DajTc  could  not  behold  withoat  pity  the 
Bymptrans  of  a  pauion  which  he  new  deemed  te  be  iocurablc. 
He  therefore,  alter  some  deliberation,  cooimimicated  to  his 
yoong  friend  a  project  which,  though  extremely  hazardous, 
might  possibly,  if  pureucd  with  slull  and  caution,  prodoce  the 
gratification  of  his  wishes. 

"'You  must  Bstume,"  said  he,  "  the  disguise  of  a  masoo, 
and,  repairing  te  the  tower,  appear  to  eianunc  with  the 
paatest  attention  its  structure  and  dimensions.  The  poT' 
ttt,  whoee  character  I  well  know,  will  iauBcdiatcly  acoost 
yon,  and  inquire  into  your  business.  He  will  perhaps  treat 
ywtr  with  brutality ;  but  you  will  answer  him  with  the  utmost 
rcRWCt,  and  tell  him  that  you  are  an  architect,  and,  having 
oEdoM  .to  construct  a  similar  tower  in  jmother  country,  ate 

'  Dcstrojcd.    *  CImt  itnutt.     ■  Ran.     *  Spring-faeitd.    *  )Md. 
2aS 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


ZlALT  XXGLII^XXTXICU.  XOXUTCU. 


eqoslly  cariau  and  ooretons.  He  will  enter  into  coavenalioa 
with  yoa  for  the  lake  of  ■ddng  qnestiona,  and  will  aoon  |vo- 
o  yon  to  pby  at  cben  witii  him,  in  luqtee  of  wianii^ 
moner.     ion  will  take  with  you,  in  the  first  instance. 


yoitr  money.  Yon  wiu  take  with  you,  u 
onfy  thirty  marks,  iriiid]  yon  will  loae  to  him;  and  he  will 
then  anzioiuly  request  you  to  rettm  and  take  your  revei^. 
On  the  following  day  tdke  with  yon  a  larger  nmt;  exhilnt,  if 
jtm  think  fit,  a  uttle  more  skill,  so  as  to  alarm  his  lean;  fatit 
snfiiEr  him  ultimately  to  gain  the  whole.  On  the  third  day 
yon  most  orenriiehn  his  avance  by  your  genraosi^.  Stake 
large  Boms,  and  lose  than  with  cardessness ;  di^lay,  without 
afibctation,  the  rich  golden  cap  which  I  have  seen  in  your 
poasenaicm,  and  to  gain  which  he  would  readily  stake  his  body 
and  BOuL  He  will  press  yon  most  eagerly  to  pt^  for  it,  ai^ 
will  oSer  to  risk  against  it  whatever  he  is  worth.  After 
raising  his  anxiety  to  the  ntmost,  make  him  an  otEir  of  it, 
declaring  to  him  at  the  same  time,  that  yonr  wealth  enaUes 
jon  to  consider  such  a  present  as  a  mere  trifle.  'Hiis  will 
eoinjdetely  dazsle  and  overpower  him;  he  will  devote  himadf 
to  yoo  as  yonr  slave;  and  yon  may  then  put  his  courage  and 
ingenuity  to  any  trial  which  you  may  think  proper." 

florioe  was  charmed  with  this  oontrivanee,  mid  executed  it 
with  abilift-  and  snccess.  The  porter,  indeed,  was  dreadfblly 
alarmed  when  he  first  lesmt  (he  dangerous  service  that  was 
expected  from  him,  and  repented  the  rash  oath  I7  iriiich  be 
hod  bound  himaelf  to  an  inconsiderate  youth,  perfect^  care- 
less of  his  own  safety,  and  indififerent  to  that  ^  others.  But 
as  Florice  had  informed  him  of  his  whole  liist«y,  he  began  to 
reflect  that  his  benefiKtor  was  tiie  only  son  of  a  powerfnl 
monardi,  from  whom  he  mig^t  eiqtect  the  poasesdon  <tf  tm- 
Ixmnded  wealth;  and  dmt  life  tstrften  haarded  on  mudi  len 
flattering  jooqiects;  he  therefore  condnded  by  requestai^  a 
delay  of  three  days,  during  wbidi  he  promised  to  devise  scxne 
expedient  for  gratiiyiiw  the  prince's  wishes. 

Blancheflenr  and  aD  ner  companiona  wete  passionatdy  food 
of  flowers,  and  it  was  the  porter's  dn^  to  supply  them  in  nro- 
fiiKon.  Casting  lus  eyes  on  1h£  hampers,  in  which  taese 
flowers  were  usually  conveyed,  he  thought  that  one  of  them 
might  without  diflSenlty  contain  a  man;  and  Florice  haviitt 
tried  the  experiment,  hu  friend  covered  him  with  roses  and 
liUea,  and  wdered  a  oonple  of  stout  slans  to  convey  tbrt 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


TLOBICE  AMD  BLXUKCHEFLOUS.  469 

namper,  bother  vith  tlie  rest,  into  Bliwchefieai'e  apartment. 
Hie  slaves  obeyed;  but 

lliej  bade  God  give  him  evil  &d,' 
Iliat  BO  many  flowers  did  Uierin, 
and  growing  more  and  more  aurljr  b«  they  struggled  mider  the 
unexpected  load,  ihej  stopped  at*  the  first  apartment,  which 
beloi^ed  to  a  maiden  named  Clarice,  iostead  of  proceeding  to 
that  of  Blancheflenr ;  and,  having  deposited  their  burthen, 
again  repeated  their  esecrations,  and  retired. 

Clarice  was,  fortunately,  the  intimate  and  confidential  ' 
friend  of  filaacheflem:,  and  still  more  fortunately,  happened 
to  be  aloue  when  the  hamper  arrived.  She  immediately  ap- 
proached it  to  inspect  the  flowers,  when  Florice,  almost  Buffi>- 
cated  with  heat,  and  breathless  with  the  expectation  of  seeing 
his  long  lost  mistress,  on  hearing  the  light  steps  of  a  single 
fbmale,  suddenly  started  up  in  his  hamper  and  prepared  to 
rush  into  her  arms.  The  sight  of  a  spectre  would  not  have 
been  more  astonishing  to  Cluice.  She  involnntary  uttered  a 
shrill  and  loud  scream,  which  echoed  through  the  apartmenta, 
and  presently  brou^t  a  number  of  female  slaves  to  her  assist- 
ance. Flonce  finaW  his  secret  betrayed,  though  he  knew 
not  whether  by  accident  or  design,  hearing  the  crowd  of 
females  who  hurried  towards  the  chamber,  and  expecting  to 
be  dragged  to  instant  execution,  stood  silent  and  motiomeas 
in  hls^miper,  and  renened  himself  to  a  &te  which  he  be- 
lieved to  be  tuevitaUe.  But  Clarice,  with  admirable  pr«aence 
of  mind,  iwftVing  him  a  sign  to  crouch  down  beneath  the 
flowers,  instantly  remedied  the  confusion,  and  with  perfect 
serenity  of  coontensnoe  replied  to  the  questions  of  her 


"To  this  coupe*  ich  came,  and  wold 
The  flowers  handle  and  behold ; 
Ac  there,  or  ich  it  ever  wist, 
A  butterfly  to-goin  me  fliat. 
Ich  was  BO  sore  adrad  of  than, 
Ihat  shrieken  and  greden*  I  began." 
The  maidens  hadde  therof  glee. 
And  turned  again,  and  let  Clarice  be. 
Having  extricated  herself  from  this  difficulty,  she  ran  to 
the  apartment  of  Blancheflenr,  and,  while  her  eyes  sparkled 
>  End,  Pr.      ■  Baiktf.  The  word  cowliu  itQl  ia  lom*  of  (For  prorlndd 
dkloeti  a  neulj  dmOar  mMatng.        '  Crjr  ont.  Sax. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


470  EA.SLT  SKfiLIIH  lUXmiOU. 

with  joy,  "Comfi  »w«iy,"  ntd  rfie,  "come  and  see  the  ptaocut 
I  have  received  from  the  garden !  Such  a  flower !  If  jtm  o^ 
look  <m  it  for  a  moment,  I  am  sure  it  wiE  giro  you  infinite 
pleasure."  "Do  not  mock  my  giief,"  replied  Blanchefleor, 
"by  tAlking  to  nw  of  pleasore !  I  an  aisored  that  the  a^zai 
is  resolved  to  m^e  me  his  irife ;  but  nerer,  no,  oerer  AiJi  he 
take  me  alive  to  hia  anns.  Floriee,  psriups,  may  have  ftv~ 
gottm  me,  but  never  will  I  forget  ti»e  sacred  promise  of  jmt- 
BCrving  my  fideUty  inviolate ! "  Clarice  listened  ta  her  w^  s. 
mysterious  smile,  of  which  she  waa  unable  to  comprehend  tke 
ntesning,  and,  seizing  her  hand,  only  said,  "CMne 
see  thi«  curious  flower; "  and  drt^^ed  her  np  to  th< 
from  which  Plorice  immediately  iasurd.  Blanchefleur,  e, 
leas  with  joy  and  astonishment,  sunk  into  bis  anna,  and  w^bh 
I^lorice  pressed  her  to  hia  heart  in  silent  rmhae, 

Clarice  bchdd  all  this. 

Their  eonntenance,  and  their  blias,- 

And  laughing  said  to  Blanchdteur, 
"Fellow,'  knowest  thou  ought  this  flow^ 

Little  ere,  ne  wonldest  thou  it  see ; 

And  now,  then  ne  might  it  let  fn  tfaeo! 

He  must  ken  well  moehel  of  art. 

That  thou  wonldest  give  tberof  any  part!" 
The  lov«TB  now  threw  themselves  at  her  feet,  whicb  ihej 
bathed  with  tean.  imploring  her  not  to  bettay  them  to  thft 
amiral ;  and  the  good-natured  girl  not  only  promised  to  ike^ 
their  secret,  but  to  assist  them  to  tiie  utmost  of  her  power  in 
tie  further  prosecntion  of  their  amours.  It  was  impasttUe  ts 
be  more  inconveniently  situated  than  they  were  for  tlie  par* 
pose  of  obtaining  that  nuptial  benediction  which  was  neec*- 
sary  to  legalize  and  to  conneciate  their  union,  and  it  was  no 
less  impossible,  after  Clarice  had  "brought  them  to  a  bed 
wrought  with  silk  and  cendale,  and  drawn  the  curtains  round," 
that  two  lovers  so  long  separated  by  fortune,  and  so  well 
convinced  of  each  other's  constanCT;  should  not  consider 
themselves  as  husband  and  wifc.  They  therefore  satisfied 
tlieir  own  scruples,  and  those  of  their  good  friend  Clarice,  1^ 
the  most  solemn  promise  of  being  pnUidy  married  at  the  first 
'"  ■         irtunity. 

V  had  the  amiral  swich  a  wone,* 
Tlwt  every  day  there  should  come 


uL,  Google 


.  TLOSICE  AJIQ  BLATTHCKXFLOIIB.  471 

Three  maidens  out  of  her  bower. 

To  eerven  him,  up  in  the  tower. 

With  wfitei-,  and  cloth,  and  basin. 

For  to  washen  his  bondes  in. 

The  third  ehould  bring  comb  and  nurour, 

To  serven  him  with  great  honour. 
And  aa  this  cercmDnj  was  performed  by  all  the  ladica  in 
rotation,  each  pair  being  on  duty  ibr  two  succeasire  days,  it 
un&rtunately  came  to  the  turn  of  Clarice  and  Blanchefieur,  on 
the  morning  after  the  arrival  of  Florice.  Clarice  rose  with 
the  Bun,  and  hastened  to  call  her  friend,  wbo  promised  to  f<d- 
low  immediately;  but  having  &iled  to  keep  her  word,  the 
dexterous  confidante  amared  the  amiral  that  the  poor  girl  had 
^ifflit  the  whole  night  in  prayers  for  his  safety  and  happinem, 
and  was.  for  that  reason,  incapable  of  attending  her  duty, 
lllis  excuse  was  so  well  delivered  that  the  amorous  monarch 
was  perfectly  Batisfied;  but  aa  the  same  story,  however 
j^usible,  was  not  likely  to  succeed  a  second  time,  Clarice 
earnestly  beeou^t  Blaochefleur  to  be  more  watchful  on  the 
following  day ;  wb«n  finding  that  after  repeating  her  sum- 
mcms  more  loudly  than  usual  she  obtained  no  answer,  she 
Toy  naturally  ooDcluded  that  tbe  recollection  of  her  recent 
dai^er  had  kept  her  fiiend  awake,  and  that  she  must  be 
already  arrived  at  tbe  palace.  So.strong  was  this  imprewion 
on  her  mind,  that  when,  upon  ber  appearing  before  the  amiral, 
he  repcat«d  his  former  question,  she  was  utterly  uBjwovided 
with  an  answer.  Her  haughty  master,  incensed  at  this  mark 
ot  n^lect  on  the  part  of  that  BlancheSeur  who  had  bo  lately 
been  wearying  Heaven  with  prayers  for  hie  happiness,  in- 
stantly OTcbred  hia  chamberlain  to  repair  to  her  apartment, 
and  to  explore  the  cause  of  her  absence.  The  chamberlain 
executed  his  commisffion,  entered  her  bower,  advanced  to  ber 
bed,  opened  the  curtains,  beheld  ber  foet  asleep,  saw  another 
flMW  on  the  same  pillow,  and  returned,  almoet  petrified  with 
astonishment,  to  relate  the  story  to  his  master.  The  amiral, 
sot  leee  Ewtoniahed,  seieed  his  sword,  and  proceeded  with  hia 
officer  to  the  bed ;  and  "yet  was  the  sleep  so  fast  on  their 
eyea"  that  the  happy  couple  were  unconscious  of  his  intru- 
MMt.  Florice  was  so  young  that  his  ftee  did  not  betray  his 
sex ;  bat  the  aotirnl.  nncoTering  his  breast,  perceived  that  he 
was  a  man,  and,  boiling  with  rage,  uttered  an  exclamation 
which  wakened  the  sleeping  lovers. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


473  KiJUrt  KSOLIBH  KETaiOAL   BOIUIfOU. 

"  Say  me  now,  iJiou,  bel  mni,  ' 

'Wlio  made  thcc  so  hardi. 

For  to  came  into  my  tower 

To  lig^  there  hj  Bl&uncheflour? 

To  wrother-hale '  were  ye  bore,' 

Ye  Bbollen  tholic'  death  thcreibre!" 
Neidier  of  the  lorera  were  able,  in.  this  first  moment  <d  sur- 
prise and  honor,  to  give  any  answer  to  his  questions ;  but  as 
the  desire  of  learning  all  the  circumstances  of  this  inexplicable 
adventure  had,  in  the  first  instance,  stopped  his  uplifted 
Bword,  he  now  determined  that  the  culprits  should  be  ex- 
amined before  his  whole  conncil,  and  in  the  mean  time  ordered 
them  into  strict  confinemout.  His  peers  being  assembled,  he 
related  to  them  the  circumstances  o.f  the  case,  which  were  so 
atrong  that  they  could  not  avoid  awarding  the  punishment  of 
dcMi  against  the  guilty  couple ;  but  when  the  prisoners  were 
bniugtit  into  court,  their  youth,  their  air  of  innocence,  and 
the  evident  anxiety  of  each  for  the  fikte  of  the  other,  awakened 
the  utmost  compassion  of  their  judges,  who  flocLed  round 
them,  and  aurv^ed  them  with  pi^  and  astonishment.  Florice 
had  still  on  his  finger  the  ring  bestowed  on  him  by  his  mother, 
and  hastily  putting  it  into  the  hand  of  his  mistress,  earnestly 
eonjuied  her  to  preserre  it,  adding  that  when  she  should  be 
■ecore,  he  conld  meet  his  &tc,  whatever  it  mij^t  be,  with 
proper  fortitude.  But  Blanchefleur„not  less  generous  than 
her  lover,  scorned  the  means  of  sur%-iving  him;  and  during 
this  contest  of  affection  the  ring  was  dropped  on  the  ground 
and  picked  up  by  one  of  the  lords,  who  hastened  with  it  to 
the  amiral,  and  related  to  him  with  tears  of  admiration  the 
BinEular  scene  which  he  bad  witnessed. 

Ihc  monarch,  though  he  felt  for  Florice  the  rage  of  a  disap- 
pointed rival,  was  not  unmoved  by  this  narratiye,  and,  order- 
ing the  prisoners  up  to  the  throne,  demanded  of  the  youth  if 
he  had  anything  to  say.  He  replied  that  he  had  merited 
death,  and  was  prepared  to  suffer  it,  but  humbly  solicited  the 
pardim  of  Blondiefleiir ;  while  she  tMildlv  proclaimed  her  own 
guilt,  and  refused,  in  the  presence  of  the  astonished  amiral, 
any  boon  which  she  could  not  share  with  Florice.  '*  Then," 
■aid  he,  "ye  shall  both  die!"  aod,  drawing  his  sword,  saw 
them  rush  forward  together,  and  stretch  out  their  necis  to 
reoeire  the  blow. 

■  Miladiotioa.  *  Botd.  *  SulTer,  Six. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


TLOBICE  AND  BIAI7N0HEFI0UK,  47S 


The  amiral,  wroth  thonrii  he  were, 

Both  him  changed  mood  and  cheer. 

For  either  fbr  other  woulde  die, 

And  he  eaw  so  many  a  weeping  eye. 

And  for  he  had  so  mochel  loved  the  may. 

Weeping  he  turned  his  head  away ; 

And  nia  swerd  it  &U  to  ground — 

The  lovers  were  pardoned;  but  the  amiral  insiflted  on 

knowing  the  contriTanoe  by  which  Florice  had  been  intro- 

duccd  into   Blanchefleur'a  apartment ;    and  this  the  youth 

reftiEcd  to  tell  until  he  had  obtained  the  fiill  pardon  of  liis 

accomplice.      This  being  readily  granted,  be  proceeded  to 

relate  his  whole  history,  end  to  explain  the  means  by  which, 

after  his  long  pilgrimage  in  search  of  Blanchefienr,  he  had 

overpowered  the  fidehty  of  the  porter,  and  gained  admission 

in  a  fiower-basket  to  the  bower  of  the  ladies.     The  amiral, 

having  thus  learned  the  noble  birth  and  valorous  exploits  of 

the  young  knight,  seated  him  by  his  side ;  conierred  on  him  a 

principal  command  in  his  armies ;  and  permitted  him  to  be 

solemnly  united  to  his  misticss  in  one  of  the  Christian  churches 

which  were  tolerated  in  his  dtmunions.     He  even  expressed 

his  wish  to  be  instructed  in  our  holy  religion ;  and,  by  the 

sdviee  of  Blanchefienr,  renounced  his  wicked  habit  of  changing 

luB  wives  annually,  and  gave  his  hand  to  the  lovely  Clarice. 

Hie  feetivals  instituted  in  honoor  of  this  marriage  were 

scarcely  finished,  when  Florice  received  the  news  of  his 

ibther'a  death,  and  the  invitation  of  his  biironage  to  take  poe- 

aeasion  of  the  throne  of  Uorcia ;   but  notwithstanding  his 

anxiety  to  revisit  his  mother,  he  could  not  immediately  tear 

himself  from  the    amiral,    his    new   convert,  nor  separate 

Blancheflenr  bom  the  amiable  Clarice :  so 

Tb^  betaught  the  amiral  our  Diight,' 
And  they  came  home  when  they  might, 
And  let  crown  him  to  king, 
And  her  to  queen,  that  sweet  thing ; 
And  underfong  Chrislendom '  of  prieetes  hood. 
And  thonked  God  of  all  his  sond. 
Now  ben  they  both  dead, 
Christ  of  heaven  home  their  souls  led. 
Now  is  this  tale  brought  to  an  end, 
Of  Florice  and  of  his  leman  hend. 
Ou  Lord.  ■  BscalTed  btptllm. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BOBBRT  OF  CTSILLB. 


A  teft  of  tte  lilliirt^  wam^Kt  is  twatritJ  is  tke  Tsb6e  Uimy  M 
CanWidfC.'  nd  ^Mhtr  n  Ife  Back^  MSS.  ITttl.  fram  >t^A  a^ 
baavriiM  >k  arfa.  ll  wm  aenr  pnatoL  VwtaB  ksnag  ibwm^ 
■■■I .III  I  ■    Iti ■piiMJrti  filliiiibtifcMiiitn»»i'<.T|riifl'r 


Bonn,  ki^  efSMar.  fanAn  to  Pupe  Uitam  nd  to  Tale- 
Miad.  I  Mill  i^ii  of  Gewmaar.  «iB  ■■iiif  tke  moa  pwaM 
■id  vaknMS  piMM  of  EarufK :  bat  fan  Hi«f  '"" 


•  to  tkt  '3iKtiij  iWiit  wMwwt  nidnrt  ntoctoi 


■y  JMthe'Migtofiwt:  *  iif  ii  ■iluuH.li.u  d»  ■ 

wwib:  aiiidL  knn^  hMi4  iti    i  if  ha^iw    milii  1  llil  ■ 
mpn^MooA  MOV  '^y  fcoB^t  sm£^  h^*  ook^  to^  *^7  ■o^w^ 
«f  chtvaliT.  Wis  too  aiKkihr  to  b»  ^«v«  dw*  fan  W  ^mK. 
and  told  no  «pawlie«WBM  of  SHnr  mfcii  i  cnlud  at  Uc  es- 


BOR  ndtiMB  Am  e««r.  aad  u  toit  feB  fat  > 

tinr  a»cnNl  tke^faCBc*.  togrttoi  witk  Ac-  ro^  robo.  tod 
bectt  anndtd  tor  Ac  mmi  oSeos  to  i^  ftoi  wtore  mp- 
pw  «v  imMdiMelT  «i«d.  Bib       ' 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


close  of  day ;  was  much  asttmished  by  the  dsifatess  of  the 
church,  and  not  less  so  hj  tite  solitude  whidi  surrounded  hnn. 
He  began  to  call  loudly  for  his  attendmts,  and  at  length 
attracted  the  notice  of  the  sexton,  who,  coneeiving  him  to  be 
a  thief  secreted  in  the  chur^  for  the  porpoae  <rf  stealing  the 
sacred  ornaments,  approached  the  door  with  some  precaution, 
and  transmitted  his  iruflpioioiw  thnmgh  tiie  key-hole.  Robert 
indignantly  repelled  this  accusation,  affiimiag  that  he  waft  the 
king ;  upon  which  the  eexton,  peTSuaded  that  lie  had  lost  his  . 
senses,  and  not  at  all  desirous  of  having  a  maJman  under  his 
care,  readily  opened  the  door,  and  was  glad  to  see  the  sup' 
posed  maniac  run  with  all  speed  to  the  pwace.  But  the  palace 
gates  were  shut ;  and  Rob^t,  wbose  temp^  was  never  very 
enduring,  and  was  novp  exasperated  hy  rage  and  hunger, 
vunly  attempted  by  threats  dT  impriscximent,  and  even  of 
deatii,  to  subdue  the  ocntumaoy  of  ^e  portw.  While  tke 
metamorphosed  monarch  wss  Teatkig  his  rage  at  the  gate, 
this  officer  hastened  to  the  hall,  and,  &lling  on  his  knees, 


reqne«ted  his  sovereign's  m^ers  conceiwtg  a  madman  who 
loudly  asserted  his  right  to  the  thronoi  llta  angel  directed 
that  he  should  be  immediately  admitted ;  and  Rob^  at  l«3)gtli 


appeared,  covered  with  mud,  in  consequ^tce  of  an  affiny  in 
wluch  he  had  flattened  the  porter's  nose,  and  had  bem  lum- 
self  rolled  in  a  puddle  by  the  porter's  aisistaBts. 

Without  paying  the  least  attention  to  these  accidental  cir- 
cumstances, or  to  tJie  damouiB  of  the  wvniaded  man,  who 
toodly  demanded  justice,  he  ru^ed  up  to  the  throne;  and 
though  a  good  deial  startled  at  finding  not  only  that,  and  all 
the  attributes  of  royalty,  but  even  his  complete  set  of  feature^ 
in  the  possession  of  another,  he  boIiUy  proeeeded  to  treat  the 
angel  as  an  impoetor,  threatening  hini  with  the  vengeanee  ti 
the  po^  and  of  the  emperor,  who,  he  thought,  could  not  fiiil 
of  Astinguishiug  &e  tne  from  the  fictitious  sovereign  of 
Sicily. 

"Thouartmy  fijoir"  said  the  angri ; 

Thou  shalt  be  shorn,  ereiy  deal. 

Like  a  fool,  a  fool  to  be : 

For  Ihou  hast  now  no  d^nity. 

Hiine  counfleUor  shall  be  an  spa; 

And  o  clothing  you  shall  be  sh^e^^ 

He  shall  beu  uune  own  fere: 

Some  wit  at  him  tLou  might  lore. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


476  KAXI.T  BROLISH  KKTBIC^f  SOMAJTCSa. 

Hoondfl,  boir  bo  it  be&lle. 

OmU  eat  irith  thee  is  the  hall. 

litoa.  shalt  e&ten  on  the  ground; 

tbj  BKjer'  shall  ben  ui  hound. 

To  assay  thy  meat  before  thee; 

For  Utou  bast  lore  tby  dignityl" 
He  elated  a  barber  him  before, 

llat,  OS  a  fool,  he  ehoold  be  shore. 

All  STonnd  like  a  fiere. 

An  hand-brede'  above  the  ear; 

And  on  his  crown  moken  a  cro68.* 

He  gan  cry  and  make  noise ; 

And  said  they  ahonld  all  ^ye, 

Ibat  did  him  awich  villainy ! 

Thna  waa  Robert  redoced  to  the  lowest  state  of  hnman 

desnidation;  an  ob)ect  of  contempt  and  deiision  to  Ihoee  whom 

be  nad  been  aoonstomed  to  despise;  often  sufEering  from  bun- 

gn  and  tbiist;    and  seeing  lua  sufeiings  inspiie  no  more 

1  than  those  of  the  animals  with  whom  be  shared 


his  precuioos  and  disgustingrepast.  Yet  his  pride  and  petu- 
lance were  not  subdued.  To  the  frequent  inquiries  (^  tbe 
angel  wbetber  be  still  thought  himself  a  king,  ne  continued 
to  toBwvr  t^  hau^ty  deamncjatjons  of  vengeance,  and  was 
incensed  ahnoet  to  madness  when  this  reply  excited,  as  it  COU' 
stantly  did,  a  geoeral  burst  id  laughter. 

In  the  mean  time  Robert's  dtmimons  were  admirably  go- 
verned 1^  bis  angelic  substitnte.  The  country,  always  frmtfril, 
became  a  paragon  of  fertility;  abuses  were  checked  by  a 
severe  sdmrnurtiatuMi  of  equu  justice;  and,  for  a  time,  all 
evil  pn^tensities  wemed  to  be  eradicated  &om  the  hearts  of 
the  fa^if^  Siriliinn 

Every  man  loved  well  other; 

Better  love  was  never  with  brother. 

In  his  time  was  never  no  strife 

Between  BUm  and  his  wife: 

Iben  was  this  a  joyfa]  thing 

In  land  to  have  swich  a  king. 
At  the  enA  irf  about  three  years  arrived  a  solemn  embassy 
from  Sir  Valemond  the  emperor,  requesting  that  Robert  would 

■  IX.  -'  l!^**^:   .  •  *■  •»^'»  t>re«Mi. 
^ff"^"*"*  ^"^  ■.  -  Id  «t™  ttea  iB  « 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


SOBXBt  OF  CT8IIJA  477 

join  him,  on  Hol^Thunday,  at  Sflme.  whither  he  proposed  to 
go  on  a  visit  to  his  brother  Urben.  The  angel  irelcomed  the 
ambassadors;  bestowed  on  them  gaiments  lined  with  ermine 
and  embroidered  nith  jewels,  so  ezquiriteljr  wrought  as  to 
excite  nnireTsal  astonishment;  anddeparted  m  their  company 
to  Rome. — 

Hie  fool  Robert  also  went. 

Clothed  in  loathly  gamement. 

With  fox-tails  riven  all  abont: 

Hen  might  have  kuowen  in  Ute  rout. 

An  ape  rode  of  his  clothing; 

So  foul  rode  never  king, 
lliese  strange  figures,  contrasted  with  tlie  unparalleled 
magnificence  of  the  angel  and  his  attendants,  produced  infinite 
merriment  among  the  spectators,  whose  shouts  of  admiration 
were  railivened  by  frequent  peals  of  laughter. 

Robert  witneased,  in  sullen  silence,  the  demoostiations  of 
eSectionate  regard  with  which  the  pope  and  the  emperor 
welcomed  their  supposed  brother ;  but  at  length,  rushing  for- 
ward, bitterly  reproached  them  for  thus  joining  in  an  unna- 
tural conspiracy  with  the  usurper  of  his  throne.  This  violent 
salfy,  however,  was  received  by  his  brothers,  and  by  the  whole 
papal  court,  as  an  undoubted  proof  of  his  madness ;  end  he 
now  leamt  for  the  firat  time  the  real  extent  of  his  misfortune. 
His  stubbonmees  and  pride  gave  way,  and  were  succeeded  by 
sentiments  of  remorse  and  penitence. 

We  have  already  seen  that  he  was  not  verr  profoundly 
versed  in  Scripture  history,  but  he  now  fortunately  recollected 
two  exBinples  which  he  considered  as  nearly  similar  to  his 
own;  those  of  Nebuchadnessar  and  Holofemes.  Recalling  to 
his  mind  their  greatness  and  degradation,  he  observed  that 
God  alone  had  bestowed  on  them  that  power  which  he  after- 
wards annihilated — 

"  So  hath  he  mine,  for  my  gnlt; 

Now  am  I  fbll  lowe  pult;' 

And  that  is  rifl^t  that  I  so  be: 

Lord,  on  thy  fool  have  thou  pit^! 

That  error  hath  made  me  to  smart 

That  1  had  in  my  heart; 

Lord,  I  leved  not  on  thee: 

Lord,  on  thy  fbol  have  thou  pitL 
'  Piit.-.&eB  HsDivcH'iIKetioiUTT,  p.  6S1. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


478  KAU.T  xjfQUSH  Mxrucu.  koicutcbs. 


HtJy  wiit  I  bttd  in  deqrite; 

Thiinfare  mred  ■■  my  ri^it; 

IWrAk  u  right  ft  totA  tbat  I  be ; 

ImmA,  oTtkj  fixdluTC  tbon  pile,"  Stc 
He  uaomtj  oi  Ina  omtritian  is  evinced,  in  ibe  origuwl, 
hyakogseriesttf  (odiXanns,  with  little  TBriation  of  tfaoo^t 
or  ex|ve9SMm;  but  the  fitfegoiBg  i****"""  will,  perhaps,  suf- 
fice for  the  satisbction  cf  the  rrader. 

After  fire  weds  qiaat  in  Rome,  the  amfeter,  and  the  snp- 
poaed  King  of  Skaly,  itJntued  to  their  n^eetiTe  dominiong, 
Jtohert  being  still  aoooatrod  in  his  ioK-tstla  and  acconipaaied 
Inr  his  Kfe,  whmn  he  now  eeased  b>  ocweidrT  as  his  ii^erior. 
When  tetarned  to  the  palace,  the  ngel,  befan  the  iriM>le 
ooart,  lepcated  his  nnal  qoection;  bvt  the  penitent,  br  frtan 
penevering  in  hia  finer  iaaolotee,  h^Uy  rallied,  "that 
te  was  indeed  a  fool,  or  worse  than  a  bal;  hot  that  be  bad  at 
least  ncqniTed  a  pericet  indifcteace  for  aD  waridlj  dignities." 
Ife  atten^nts  wcie  now  oidend  to  lelite:  and  tl^  angd, 
being  )c4t  alone  with  Bobert,  infonaed  him  that  hia  ue  were 
iMgHt;  gave  him  a  Cbw  salutary  mimaadikma,  amd  added, 
"  I  am  an  H^d  of  raMwn 

Sent  to  keep  thy  T^ion. 

Man  jay  me  AaU  &D 

In  heaTen,  among  mine  fa^  all. 


h  an  hundred  thomuKl  yeat; 

Hm^  all  the  world,  &r  and  near, 

W<»e  mine  at  my  liking: 

I  am  an  angel;  tbon  art  lan^V 
With&esewotdshedinppeared;  and  Robert,  tebtming  to 
&e  hall,  receired,  not  witbont  suae  wuprise  sad  eoofnsMn, 
the  nsual  salutations  of  the  courtiers. 

Fkou  this  period  be  eoatinaed.  during  thiee  Tears,  to  reign 
with  so  much  justice  and  wisdoni  that  bis  safajects  had  no 
cause  to  regret  the  t^an^  of  their  aaveic^ ;  after  which, 
being  warned  by  the  an^l  of  his  apimaching  dissolution,  he 
dictated  to  his  seoetaries  a  full  accoant  (^  las  former  per- 
Tnveness,  and  of  its  stiange  pamshatCTt;  and.  having  sealed 
it  with  the  rojal  signet,  ordered  it  to  be  seat.  iiH"  the  edifica- 
tioB  of  his  brothRB.  to  Rome  and  Vienna.  Both  leveived, 
widk  due  reject.  Urn  Jvpattiat  lenon:  &e  emperor  often 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


■IB   UDKBKAS.  479 

■WoaOocted  irith  tenderneH  and  campaaaaa  the  degraded 
■hatiop  of  the  Tsliftnt  Robert;  and  the  pope,  beudea  availing 
hinself  of  the  ttoiy  in  a  niunber  of  scnnone  addressed  to  the 
bidifol,  caused  it  to  be  carefully  preserved  iu  the  arnhives  of 
the  Vatican,  ae  a  constant  wsniing  againBt  pride,  «iid  aa 
inctteinaiit  to  the  peribrmance  of  our  rdigious  duties. 


SIR  ISUMBRAa 


pbjl.     It  eoniaiit*  of  130  ni-lined  it 


Thkbe  was  onoe  a  kniffht,  who  from  his  earliest  iofim^ 
appeared  to  be  tlie  peouhar  bvourite  of  fortune.  His  birtli 
ms  noble;  hia  person  equally  remarkable  for  strength  and 
beauty ;  his  posaesaious  ao  extensive  as  to  jumiah  the  amusO' 
menta  of  hawking  and  hunting  in  the  highest  perfoctdon. 
Aough  he  had  found  no  opportnni^  of  signalizing  his  eon- 
rage  in  war,  he  bad  borne  away  the  prise  at  numberless  tour- 
naments; his  courtesy  was  the  theme  of  general  praiae;  his 
knll  was  tlie  seat  of  unceasing  plenty ;  it  was  crowded  with 
miaBtrels,  whom  he  entertained  with  princely  liberality,  and 
Ihe  possession  of  a  beautiful  wife  and  three  lovely  cluldren 
eamplcted  the  sum  of  earthly  happiness. 

Sir  bumbias  bad  many  virtues ;  but  he  had  one  vice.  In 
d>e  pride  of  his  heart  he  forgot  the  Giver  of  all  good  things, 
and  considered  the  blessings  so  abundantly  showered  upon 
him,  as  the  proper  and  just  reward  of  his  distinguished  merit. 
Instances  of  this  overweening  presumption  might  perhaps  be 
found  in  all  ages  amoi^  the  possessom  of  wealth  and  power; 
but  few  sinners  have  the  good  fortune  to  be  recalled,  like  Sir 
Isumbras,  by  a  severe  but  salutary  punishment,  to  the  pious 
's  of  Clmstian  humility. 

ce  u  printed  ftam  a  MS.  at  LinnlD  in  the  Thornton 
id  by  Halliwell.  1844.    No  Freadi  original  of  it  hm  been 
diiCDTered,  but  it  ii  moM  [oobatile  that  it  wm  dniT^  &ou  itae  Angb- 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


ZAKLI  KXCUSX 


Md  w^h  k  lanfc  OB  kk  fiat.  Sir  IwbiM  wwt  im  rjta  «■  tte 
At.  tmd  Hmjntivi  an  aa^^  who,  henwaiaf  cnr^  b^,  i«- 

Iwtewl d»e  jmdcg  of  his  ^tgnce;  irtmugtl  tl»b  toHcKW 
fcr  detEni&e  to  TCtt  Ibib  with  ■dmaty  wliile  the  poaKsaa 
t/jnurli  ■ml  hmlih  i—hliil  Iiiia  In  iil'iii  ir  aa^ fitted  wi& 
COBDritBtMi.  prepana  to  wium  fiuii  ne  fcceA.  Bd£  i^Kre^ 
kad  tfae  «tuKl  ifijapywa.  wka*  hn  good  steed  aoddea^  1^ 
dead  aada-  hist:  tbe  hawk  iLuy|nd  fram  kis  bt;  his  hn^da 
wastted  md  expired:  ^ri  bmg  ehng  tdH  aJnae.  he  htmxmgd  ^ 
SmC  Kmnb  his  polaec.  filled  with  ■rlaahdj  iBilmilkBP. 
bat  impoDml  to  I^eb  daa  whi^  ExteaC  -^*— t  — ^  f    *      ■ 

H«ww  dKrdjwC  by  a  part  rf  hi»  hnthoM.  wW.  wVk 
■onr  sears.  mhxMad  him  dux  Bia  hotfsea  and  ot^nt  had  be^a 


aU  atn^  w  ^uh  widL  athl^s.  He  iMciwd  the  ti&p 
with  t™i"M>  icgtgaatiea.  coaaaM^d  bm  aaiiic*  to  -*— *~n 
E  PcovidBKe.  and  paacd  «.     He  ww 


■ext  aiM  E>T  X  pafe.  who  TrtaaA  that  his  casde  a 

tbe  ^Tunmi.  onB  maax  at'  bi»  MnaaB  had  bat  their  Evca, 

aad  tikae  his  wife  and  diilihc«  h^  with  gnoC   iKgwifcy 


hadjet  jpand  duev  who  was  ■««(  de^  to  hn.  bestowed 

apim  the  ^anisi^d  p^e  hia  poise  of  gold  asaicmd  far 
dhi  inctrili^RBK. 

Jl  thitefid  sieac  then  ^m  he  aee; 

His  wi&  and  duSdna  thice 
i>tt  of  tfa»  file  woe  Heii 


Bnmc:ht  not  td  dnr  bed. 
A  wi^iiman  thra  was  he. 
Vh^  k'  «w  thorn  all  Baked  be. 

Tx  ladj  Mid.  all  aa  faur^. 
*far  BBChtng;  ^.  be  je  a^vL" 


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US  isiriiBSAS. 


He  did  off  his  nroote  of  pellade,' 

And  with  it  clad  his  wife. 
Wm  tcoriet  mantle  then  ahore  be; 
nramn  be  dosed  bis  duldren  tluve 
Tbot  nuked  befbre  bim  Btood. 
He  then  proposed  to  b»  wife,  that,  aa  an  expiation  of  their 
ainB,  they  uunud  instantlr  undertake  a  pilgnmage  to  iem- 
aalem;  and,  cutting  with  W  knife  a  eigu  of  the  erote  on  bis 
naked  ebonldcr,  set  off  with  the  font  companione  of  bis  miamr, 
resolving  to  b^  bia  bread  till  be  ahonld  atriTO  at  the  holy 
■epnlchie. 

After  passing  through  "aeren  lands,"  aappoited  by  the 
scanty  ainia  of  uie  charitable,  they  arrived  at  length  at  a  foreat 
where  they  wandered  daring  three  days  withont  meeting  a 
single  habitation.  Their  food  was  rednced  to  the  few  bemes 
which  tbey  were  able  to  collect;  and  the  children,  unaccns- 
tomed  to  such  hard  fere,  began  to  sink  under  the  accumulated 
difficulties  of  their  journey.  In  this  situation  they  were 
■topped  by  a  wide  and  rapid  though  shallow  river.  Sr 
Isumbias,  taking  his  eldest  son  in  bis  arms,  carried  h™  over 
to  the  qmosite  bank,  and,  placing  him  under  a  bush  of  broom, 
directed  bijm  to  dry  hie  tears,  and  amnse  himself  by  playing 
with  the  blossoms  till  bis  return  with  his  brother.  But 
aearcely  bad  he  left  the  place,  when  a  lion,  starting  from  a 
neighbouring  thicket,  seized  the  child,  and  bore  him  away 
into  tbe  recesses  <tf  the  forest  The  secmid  eon  became,  in 
like  maimer,  tbe  prey  of  an  enormous  leopard;  and  Ox  dia- 
ooDSolate  mother,  when  carried  orer  with  her  in&nt  to  the 
fttal  spot,  was  with  difficulty  persuaded  to  torviTe  die  lose  (k 
her  two  elder  children.  Sir  Isnmbraa,  thon^  he  conld  not 
npress  the  tears  extorted  bv  this  croel  calamity,  exerted  him- 
self to  console  bis  wife,  and  bombly  confeeani^  bia  sins,  con- 
tented himself  with  [oaying  that  his  piMcnt  miaery  mig^  be 
accepted  by  Heaven  as  a  partial  expiation. 

Through  forest  thev  went  days  three. 
Till  tluy  came  to  the  Oreeldah  sea; 

They  grette,  and  were  full  wo  t 
As  th^  stood  upon  the  land, 
Ihar  saw  a  fleet  come  sailand, 
lliree  hundred  ships  and  mo. 
t  PdWa,  Lat.  (PoMof,  O.n-.)  ■oaetimn  tigmtjing  t  parileBlar  stal; 

., u_._j — ^    See  Do  CMigo. 

2l 


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4KS  sxKLT  ExausK  mxucu.  bokakcsb. 

Wi^  topMBteb  Mi  an-laft. 
BJcUf  ibem  woe  tki;  mvai^l; 

Witk  joy  and  isielue  pride: 
A.  bMthen  kbK  «»  tbmu, 
Hut  GhnstettdoDi  came  to  irin; 
His  power  me  full  wide. 
It  wu  BOW  saves  days  einee 
or  nMt^  the  bob^d's  gaUer,  tl 
to  the  bew^thflB  OvejimMmA  on  boHil  to  b^  &r  fisod. 
1^  soadan,  trnder  tlie  a[^relienaiBB  that  th^  woe  a 
Qrdincd  them  to  be  driven  back  on  shore :  but  his  a  ' 
«liacned  to  hist  that  these  emd^  not  be  caatHOa  hegg/as; 
tiuA  the  roboat  limhft  and  t^  ststiae  of  the  boahand  proved 
him  t»  be  a  kaiidit  in  diigntse;  tndthat  thedeHcate  eoi»- 
pleiian  of  the  wife,  irim  was  " bright  as  bkMBom.  on  b*e/' 
faiUHid  a  striking  contraat  to  the  E^^ed  apparel  bj  whirii  die 
waa  ven  impsifectij  eoveicd.  Th^  were  now  bnnu^ht  into 
tke  roTal  praaenee;  and  th«  soudnn,  adiire»ing  Sir  lamnhias, 
iBimediatelj  oAred  hini  «■  nrndt  tresBure  as  he  should  i»- 
qnoxe^  on  QoitditMn  tint  he  diould  renouBce  Cfanadauity.  ud 
eoosCBt  to  fight  tuder  the  Swace*  baanera.  The  arnircr 
WM  a  respeetfnl  but  peranptarr  reAisal,  condudcd  by  m 
earnest  petition  &r  a  little  food;  but  the  sondan,  horinj;  by 
thia  ticae  tnmed  his  eyes  from  Sir  Xaumbra*  to  tite  bea»- 
ti£il  caHCMiruaa  of  hi*  pilgnmaae^  tmiA  im>  attentioiL  to  hia 
KqvMt; 

Tbft  soodan  bdMUthat  lady  &en, 

Biai  thooght  an  an)^  that  ^e  wtxe^ 

Comen  a.4knrafi^am  hearcn: 

"  Maa!  I  wtU  give  thee  gold  and  fee-. 

An  Ihm  that  woman  will  mDem  mm, 

ICofv  than  thou  canacvca. 
I  inlL  t^ee  giren  an  hmdred  poaad 
Of  pennies  that  boi  whok  and  maod, 

And  rich  nifaps  aercn: 
She  diaH  be  qnecB  ef  ^  Und, 
And  aU  DMn  bow  nata  ber  band. 

And  naae  withalaad  heritav^" 
Sir  ImunhtM  said,  "  Nay! 
My  wife  I  will  nm^  am  aw^, 
Thoag^  yc  ns  fiw  Im-  alool 
>  Naoe.  ■"iliii.  fi   iiiMia^ 

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SIB  ISUUBSAS.  483 

I  wedded.  Iier  in  Qod!a  lay. 
To  hold  her  to  mine  aiduig  day. 
Both  for  weal  and  wo." 

It  evidently  would  reijniie  no  small  share  of  casoisby  to 
constnia  this  declaration  info  an  acceptance  of  tlie  har^in; 
but  the  Saiacena,  having  heard  the  offer  «f  their  sovereign, 
deliberately  counted  out  the  stipulated  sum  on  the  mantle  of 
Sir  lenmbraa ;  took  possession  of  the  lady ;  carried  thft  knight 
with  his  infant  son  on  shore ;  beat  him  till  he  was  scarcely 
able  to  move;  and  then  returned  for  fiirthci  ordere. 

During  this  operation,  the  soudan,  with  own  han^  placed 
the  T^al  crown  on  the  head  of  his  intended  bride:  but  racd- 
leclJDg  that  the  origjnal  object  of  his  voyage  to  Kirope  was 
to  oont^ucr  it,  which  might  possibly  occasion  a  loss  of  some 
tiine,  he  delayed  his  mtended  nuptial,  a-ai  ordered  a  fast- 
soiling  Teasel  ta  convey  her  to  hia  dominions,  providing  hci 
at  the  same  time  with  a  charter  addresaed  to  h:s  subjects,  in 
which  he  enjoined  them  to  obey  her,  from  the  moment  of  hex 
landing,  as  their  legitimate  sovereign. 

The  lady,  emboldened  by  these  tokens  of  deferenee  on  the 
part  of  her  new  lord,  now  fell  on  her  knees  and  entreated  his 
panaiasion  to  pass  a  few  moments  in  private  with  her  fonuei 
nnsband;  and  the  request  was  instantly  granted  by  the  com- 
pbiaant  Sairacen.  Sir  Isumbras,  still  smarting  from  his 
bruises,  was  conducted  with  great  respect  and  ceremony  to 
his  vi&j  who,  embracing  him  with  tears,  earnestly  conjured 
him  to  seek  her  out  as  soon  as  possible  in  her  new  dominions, 
to  murder  his  infidel  rival,  and  to  take  possesuon  of  a  throne 
which  was  probably  reserved  to  him^  by  Heaven  as  an  indem- 
nification for  his  past  losses.  She  then  supplied  him  with 
provisions  for  a  fortnight;  kissed  hipi  and  herinfant  son; 
swooned  three  times;  and  then  set  sail  for  Africa. 

Sir  Isumbras,  who  had  been  set  on  shore  quite  confounded 
by  this  quick  succession  of  strai^  adventures,  followed  the 
vessel  with  his  eyes  till  it  vanished  fiiim  his  sight,  and  then, 
taking  his  sod  by  the  hand,  led  him  up  to  some  rocky  wood- 
Jamb  in  the  nei^bourhood.  Here  they  sat  down  under  a 
tree,  and  after  a  short  repast,  which  was  moistened  with  tiieir 
fears,  resnmed  their  journey.  Sut  they  were  again  bewildered 
in  the  forest;  tmd,  aSer  gaining  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
without  being  able  to  descry  a.  single  habitation,  lay  down  on 
the  bare  Bound  and  resigned  themselves  to  sleep. 
2l2 

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484  KAU.T  XSGLIBB  VEtKICAL  BOIUITCKS. 

Hie  ueA  monnng  ffir  Imnsbras  found  tfaat  hie  miafbrtniMS 
were  not  ]'et  tenninated.  He  bad, earned  his  stodc  of  pnrti- 
nons,  tog^tlier  with  bis  gold,  the  frtal  |»e«nt  of  tbe  Boudan, 
aivd<^)edina8earietiiuu]tle;  and  bcuc^  had  the  xm  darted 
hia  £nt  lan  on  tbe  earib,  wben  an  es^e,  attneted  by  die 
red  cloth,  darted  down  upon  the  boaure  and  bore  it  off  in 
hia  talons.  Sx  Imaabim,  waking  at  the  moment,  perceired 
the  dteft,  and  ibr  some  time  hastily  pnrsaed  the  flirat  al  tbe 
bird,  wbo,  he  en>ected,  would  speedOf  drop  Ihe  heavy  and 
asden  bm-dien :  bnthe  was  diaamointed;  (inr  the  ea^,  «»- 
■tantly  towering  as  he  i^iproached  the  sea,  at  lengUi  directed 
his  ffigjtt  towards  the  opposite  shore  of  Africa.  Sir  Ismnhns 
doiriy  TetoTDcd  to  his  child,  whom  he  had  so  iooKer  the 
— ^—  -f  *.—»:—■  I 4.  t\.^  i.i 1   c<i i_ iL~*   i^ 


e  boy  snatched  Erom him  by  an 
Tbe  hnigbt  was  now  quite  disheartened.  Bat  his  last  oa- 
hrm'ty  was  so  evidently  nuracnlons,  that  even  the  grirf  rf  the 
blber  was  neariy  absorbed  in  tbe  contrition  of  the  nnnra-. 
He  fell  on  his  knees,  and  uttering  a  most  fervent  pr^^r  to 
Jems  and  the  Yiigin,  proceeded  on  bis  jonmey. 

His  attention  was  soon  attracted  by  the  sound  of  a  smith's 
btJlows:  be  quickly  repaired  to  the  for^,  and  requested  the 
diaritable  dooatian  of  a  Uttlc  food;  but  was  told  by  the  la- 
bonretv  that  he  seemed  weQ  able  to  woik  as  they  did,  and  diat 
they  had  nothii^  to  throw  away  in  chari^. 
Hten  answered  tbe  knidit  again, 
"  For  meat  would  I  swinJc  fiun." 
Fast  he  bare  and  draw;* 
Ib^  given  him  meat  and  drink  anon. 
And  taughten  him  to  bear  stone: 
Then  had  be  shame  enow. 
This  novitiate  lasted  a  twelvemonth,  and  seven  years  ex- 
pired  before  he  bad  tally  attained  all  the  mysteries  of  his  new 
profession.     He  em[Joyed  his  few  leisure  hoars  in  febricating 
a  complete  smt  of  armour ;  eveiy  year  had  broogfat  to  his  ears 
an  account  of  tbe  progress  of  the  Saracens ;  and  be  could  not 
help  entertaining  a  hope  that  his  arm,  though  so  ^^wbly 
employed,  was  destined,  at  some  future  day,  to  revenge  tbe 
wrongs  of  the  Christiana,  as  wcfl  as  the  injury  which  be  had 
personally  received  from  the  unbelievers. 

Al  length  he  heard  that  the  Christian  army  bad  Mun  taken 

the  field;  that  the  day  was  fixed  fiiragreatand  final  efibrt; 

'  Ubonr.  *Dnw. 

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SIB  ISTTVBK&ft.  465 

and  that  a  plain  at  nn  mconsiderablo  distance  from  his  shop 
WBB  appointed  for  the  scene  of  action.  Sir  Isiuabnu  roae 
before  day,  buckled  on  his  armour;  and,  mounting  a  horse 
which  had  hitherto  been  employed  in  carrying  coals,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  field,  and  took  a  careful  survey  of  the  disposi- 
tion  of  both  armies.  When  the  trumpets  gave  the  signal  to 
charge,  he  dismounted,  fell  on  his  Imeee,  and  eAer  a  shcni 
but  fervent  pnyer  to  Heaven,  again  sprang  into  his  saddle, 
and  rode  into  the  thickest  ranks  of  the  enemy.  His  micoitth 
war-borae  and  awkward  armour  had  scarcely  less  eSect  than 
his  wonderliil  address  and  courage  in  attractmg  the  attentioa 
of  both  parties;  and  when,  after  three  desperate  charges,  hia 
sor^  st^d  was  slain  mider  him,  one  of  the  Christian  chieft 
made  a  powerM  effort  for  his  rescue,  bore  him  to  a  neigh- 
bouring eminence,  and  presented  to  him  a  more  suitable  ooat 
of  armour,  and  a  horse  more  worthy  of  the  heroic  rider. 
When  he  waa  aimed  on  that  steed. 
It  is  seen  vhere  his  horse  yede. 

And  shall  be  evermore. 
As  sparkle  glides  off  the  glede,* 
In  that  stour  he  made  many  bleed, 
And  wrought  hem  wonder  sore. 
He  rode  up  into  the  mountain. 
The  Boudon  soon  hath  he  slain. 

And  many  that  with  him  were. 
All  that  day  lasted  the  fight;  ■       • 

%r  Isumbros,  that  noble  knight,  ' 

Wan  the  battle  there.  < 

Knights  and  squires  hon  him  son^t,  ' 

Aikd  befi»re  the  king  him  bronf^t; 

Full  sore  wounded  was  he. 
Hiey  asked  what  was  his  name; 
He  said,  "  Sire,  a  smith's  man ;  ! 

What  will  ye  do  with  me?" 
The  Christian  king  said,  than,  i 

*'  I  trow  never  smith's  man    -  i 

In  war  was  half  so  wight." 
"  I  bid'  yon,  give  me  meat  and  drink. 
And  what  that  I  will  after  think, 
TiU  I  hare  kerered*  my  might" 

■Want  ■  Baning  coal.  >Pitf.  *IUeonni. 

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4W  KAKLT  K^CLtSS  I 

Hie  kiag  »  gT««t  o«A  kwkr. 
As  SMQ  M  be  whole  were, 

fW(t  ke  wnoH  dob  him  fadgbt 
b  ft  Bmncry  ™^  hub  lewcd, 
T*  hal  &e  wmiMfe  m  Us  hered. 

That  he  taok  in  4it  firiit. 
The  Baas  of  him  woe  Itu  Urn, 
For  he  h«l  the  wmdmi  dM. 

And  mmiT  heathen  hoods; 
Fbr  ys  Mmw  the^r  ^aa  gonrae; 
Ev^n'  flay  ™^  mtfre^  him  v^tr. 
Am  itopyj  weB  his  iMMnds. 
n<ft  miP^  €uRT  fffesune,  withuut  aemgating  'o^an  ne  lasjl 
of  tihe  heh'  astes.  v  frnn  the  liitae  ot  their  ssbea  «ad 
h^an^Mh  that  'ue  kBigut  e  ititw^ij  was  bo  lev  aecelemileB 
br  the  |Jl— mh,  «f  harin^  chsitiaed  &e  iaaolost  [laiilisaii  if 
his  wife,  and  the  aathv  of  his  o— tiiiliiiwl  heating.     In  a 
lew  dan  his  health  wae  Molasad;  and,  ha«iag  [svvided  him- 
eetf  with  a  "  scrip  and  pihe,"  aad  the  other  aaroatimDents  of 
a  Fabaer,  he  tocA  fats  kai«  of  the  BKaa,  directed  his   steps 
oiKe  more  to  the  **  Ckcekiah  £ea,"  and.  esihaiking  on  boatd 
of  a  Tessri  wbich  hre  8  mad  madr  ta  sail,  (ydily  airiTcd  in 
&e  port  of  Ane. 

Itacina  sercn  yvKit,  wbiA  ws>  iiniiijiil  in  nRtme  eicrr 
part  of  t^  Hoty'  Im^  tfe  pnlMM  gb^  bmlMas  led  a  life 
of  ctmtinned  labour  and  ■iiiiiiiitiiBi.  fed 4aiim^  the  day  try 
the  pcecarioos  cmtzAntianB  of  the  ■'iM^'Hv  md  deejiag  at 
a^t  in  the  open  air.  wiAnat  tmf  additicm  to  the  scanty 
cohering  which  hit  fslgnmi's  wae^  ^hr  seres  j^us'  serricv, 
wvce  able  to  affixd.  At  kagA  fcia  paftince  aad  eaatritkn 
were  rewarded. 

After  a  Oky  speai  m  fi  ailhia  1111!'  I'  ii  Jir  a  litde 
food,  ^^ 

Beside  tk  hv^  rfTiiasihm 
He  sat  him  hf  a  weA-^nmH. 

Stice  wepandfacUsw. 
And  «  be  mt.  ahoat  laid^*. 

im. *"l'     lallllMht 

Andh  


The  Kin^  of  heavni  greeteth  wcD  thee; 
KsgiTea  is  mn  thme." 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


ns  nvKBB&s.  487 

fir  fcmAiia  «c«c7>tad  with  -pinos  gnitiliidp  the  doaation  of 
(•od,  byw^odi  ins  strength  was  imtaiidfRatoTed,  and  again 
et  -out  an  lus  tiwelR:  but  he  was  stilla  widower;  vtiS  de- 
yrnsd  of  hieckildxen,  and  aa  poor  aa  enr;  nor  had  fakhea- 
veaiy  aianitDr  afforded  han  nny  loat  for  hm  fittnie  ^mimtoa. 
He  tondeied  thecefiire  through  fhe  cxnintiy,  -withmt  aay 
ntded 'pmpoae,  t31  heaorived  at  a  "richinu^,"  built  ronntl 
a  "fiui  oMUe,"  the  poweaeor  of  wkitdk,  he  waa  tcdd,-wa3  a 
(AaritaUe  qneen,  -who  daily  distributed  a  ftmin  cf  gold  t« 
every  paer  man  ute  apfiroached  her  'gates,  and  even  eonde- 
aeended  to  faoride  Aod  and  lodgitig  within  her  palaoe  Sw 
mch  aa  ^<an  £atia^uiA«d  by  suparior  taaxy.  Sir  TiiiiiiliiM 
pnaented  kbiieelf -with  Acicat;  and  his  omaaiatod  fam  anil 
sqaaUd-ganaeaitB  pHtooaed  him  inataDt  adinittaBae. 

She  raA  qweaniataB  waaaet; 

Knights  ber  aeived,  at  hand  Mid  feet, 
in  jotsk  robes  of  paU: 

In  ihe  fiMK  a  doth  was  ibid; 
'"  The  pow  Bihaor,"  'tiw  '«tewazd  nid, 

-"  Shall  sit  above  yon  all." 

Heat  awl  drink  fivth  they  bro^it; 

He  sat  still,  and  ate  li^t  aougU, 
Bat  laokad  abont  4he  hall. 

So  wMb  he  saw  at^fuos  and  ^^ee, 

(Switdie  xurthi  he  was  wont  to  we) 
Ihe  tenia  he  let  dmm  &U. 
A  conduct  so  unusual  attracted  the  sttention  of  Hbe  wUe 
company,  and  even  of  the  qneem,  who  ordering  "  a  chair  with 
a  cuidiioD"  to  be  placed  near  the  P^mer,  took  her  seat  in  it, 
entered  into  convenation  wil^  him  on  &e  aubject  of  his  long 
and  painful  pilgrimage,  and  was  nmcii  ecBfied  by  the  moral 
leeeonB  which  he  intei^ieisad  in  Us  naitatipe.  But  no  im- 
poTtnnity  could  induce  him  to  taste  &oi:  he  was  tdck  at 
heart,  and  required  the  aid  of  aolitaiy  meditation  to  OTercome 
the  painful  recdUBoticiaB  whitdi  eostaanafiy  availed  him.  The 
queen  was  more  and  nmre  aataDt^Kd,  but  at  length  left  him 
to  his  refleetionB,  afier  dedaiing  that  "  jbr  her  lord's  bobI,  or 
Cor  faia  lore,  if  he  were  stlB  alive,"  she  was  detenniMed  to 
jstain  the  holy  Fehner  m  ha  palaoe,  sid  to  assign  him  a 
eonnnieat  apartBioit,  iogether  with  a"knave"  iv  seivsBtta 
irttfral  him. 

An  inteml  of  fifteen  yaacs,  passed  in  fhe  laborioos  occu- 


498  EAKI.T  KHOLIBH  ICXTXICAI.  BOXASC^ 

TMtifni  of  Uftdunutli  end  pI^rinL,  nu^  be  H^^MMBd  to  hsfe 
nradoDed  a  tbi;  oonndenUe  alt«ati<Ri  in  Ibe  imeamkce  of 
Sir  Inunbns;  and  erea  hia  TDice,  anbdned  bj  (ueMe  and 
pmuice,  may  have  &iled  to  detect  the  gallant  kn^jit  under 
the  di^iiise  \rtueh  be  had  so  long  awumed.  Bnt  that  hi*  wife 
(for  such  ehe  was)  should  hare  been  equally  altered  hj  the 
sole  operation  of  time;  that  the  air  and  gestmea  and  acoenta 
of  a  peraon  once  so  dear  and  so  frmiliar  to  bim,  ahonld  baTS 
awakened  no  bace  (^  recoUectioa  in  the  niind  of  a  bnsfaaud. 
duMigfa  in  die  midst  of  Boenea  which  painfiillj'  recalled  the 
memeaj  ot  bis  Sanaa  qJendour,  is  more  estzandinair.  Be 
this  aa  it  may,  Qie  knight  and  the  queen,  thoo^  lodged  sndtar 
the  same  rooC  and  passing  much  of  tbirir  time  togetber,  coo- 
tinned  to  bewail  the  miseries  of  their  protracted  widowhood. 

Sir  Isombnis,  howerw,  speedily  recorered,  in  the  pkntifiil 
oouit  of  the  ri(^  qneen,  bis  b^tb  and  sbengtb,  and  witk 
tiieae,  the  deare  of  retaining  to  his  fiutner  exocisea.  A 
tounuunent  waaprodiunied;  and  the  lists,  which  were  fonned 
immediately  im^  the  windows  of  the  castle,  were  spee^^ 
oecimied  l^  a  nunber  of  Saracen  knights,  aQ  of  whom  Sa 
Isnmhraa  succesgavdy  orerthrcw.  So  dreadiul  was  the  sbvke 
t)t  his  spear,  that  many  were  killed  at  the  first  encount^ ; 
aome  escaped  with  a  few  broken  bones ;  others  were  thrown 
beadlcHig  into  the  castle  ditch;  but  the  greater  nnmber  ooii' 
■nlted  their  safety  hj  s  timely  flight;  while  tl»  qaeen  con- 
tempkted  yriih  ^eaaure  and  astonishment  the  unparalleled 
oploits  of  ber  iavotirite  Palmer. 

llien  fen  it,  upon  a  day, 

Ibe  knigbt  went  him  for  to  play. 

As  it  was  eie  his  kind; 
A  fowrs  nest  he  found  on  bi^ ; 
A  red  doth  therein  he  se^*^ 

Wavand*  in  the  wind. 
To  the  nest  he  gan  win;* 
His  own  mantle  he  found  tbcsein; 
The  pjld  there  gan  he  find. 
Hie  painAd  recollection  awakened  l^  this  discoTErywei^ied 
heavily  on  the  soul   of  Sir  Isumbraa.      He   bore  tbe   fatal 
treasure  to  bis  dumber,    concealed  it  under  1^  bed.   and 
^jmt  the  remainder  of  the  day  in  tears  and  lamentationa. 
loo  images  <tf  bis  k)st  wife  and  diildr«n  now  began  to  haunt 
'  »w-  »  Wninf .  ■  Go. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


hun  eootiuaally;  and  his  altered  demeanour  attracted  the 
■ttestion  and  excited  the  curiosi^  of  the  whole  court,  and 
«Yen  of  the  qne^i,  who  could  only  team  fram  the  Palmer's 
Attendant  that  his  melancholy  seemed  to  ori^aate  in  the  di^ 
OOTcrj  of  something  found  in  a  bird's  nest  With  this  strange 
report  she  was  compelled  to  be  satisfied,  till  Sir  Isumbras, 
with  tt»e  hope  of  dissipatine  his  grief,  beean  to  reeunxe  his 
usual  exercises  in  the  field :  bnt  no  sooner  had  he  quitted  his 
(dkambCT,  than  the  "  squires"  by  her  command  broke  open  the 
door,  discoTra«d  the  treasure,  and  luurtened  with  it  to  the 
nml  ^artment. 

Tbe  eifiht  of  the  gold  and  of  the  scarlet  mantle  immediately 
explained  to  the  queen  the  whole  mystery  of  the  Palmer's 
honour.  She  burst  into  tears;  kissed  with  fervent  devotion 
the  memorial  of  her  lost  husband;  Icll  into  a  swoon;  and,  on 
her  recovery,  told  the  whole  story  to  her  attendants,  and  en- 
joined ib/Btn  to  go  in  quest  of  tiie  Palmer,  and  to  bring  him 
unmediately  before  her.  A  short  explanation  removed  her 
few  Twnainmg  doubts;  she  threw  herself  into  the  arms  of  her 
husband,  and  the  re-union  of  this  long  separated  couple  was 
immediately  fiiUowed  by  the  coronation  of  Sir  laumbras,  and 
by  a  long  series  of  festivities. 

The  Saracen  subjects  of  this  Christian  sovereign  continued, 
with  unshalten  loyalty,  to  partake  of  the  plenteous  entertain- 
ments provided  for  all  nmks  of  people  on  this  solemn  occa- 
sion :  Init  no  Kxmer  had  the  pious  Isiunbras  signified  to  them 
the  necessity  of  their  inunediate  conversion,  than  his  whole 
"  parliament"  adopted  the  resolution  of  deposing  and  com- 
mitting to  the  flames  their  newly-acquired  sovereign,  as  soon 
as  they  should  have  obtained  the  concurrence  of  the  neigh- 
bouring princes.  Two  of  these  readily  joined  their  forces  &a 
the  accomplishment  of  this  salutary  purpose,  and,  invading 
the  territories  of  Sir  Isumbras  with  on  army  of  thirty  thmuand 
men,  sent  him,  according  to  usual  custom,  a  solemn  defiance. 

Sir  Isumbras  boldly  answered  the   defiance,    issued  the 
necessary  orders,  called  for  his  arms,  sprang  upon  his  horse, 
and  prepared  to  march  out  against  the  enemy;  when  he  dis- 
corded that  his  subjects  had,  to  a  man,  abaudonod  him,  and 
that  he  must  encounter  singly  the  whole  host  of  the  invaden. 
Sir  Isumbras  was  bold  and  keen. 
And  took  his  leave  at  the  queen, 
Aad  sighed  wonder  sore: 

D,j„..;uL,  Google 


KAXLT  ESGLISH  lOTXJCAI,  BOKAKCES. 

He  said,  "^  Madam,  tia^  gooA  day! 
8eker)j',  wi  you  I  «y. 


^  Bdp  SK,  «ir, -tfaat  I  unm  di^t 

la  VTDB,  as  it  were  a  knight; 
I  win  witbyou  &^: 

Oif  God  K-OTiLd  «  gcaeefleni 

Tint  ^^  may  tt^«ti>ei  esd, 
'Aea  -doHe  were  all  my  ewe." 

BvoB 'wai  4fae  My  «^ 

In  arms,  as  it  were  a  knight; 
He  ga:ve  her  qtear  Hid  ritidd : 

Afain  tiiirty  1buuM>iid  SaiwnK,  and  mo, 

nine  eame  no  laolMtlbeytwa, 
Wbrai  they  met  m  fidd. 
VffMT,  pnlMMy,  £d  «  ooKtwA  take  place  bctweea  tarii 
SepRiportioned  Cweee.  Sir  Isimibms  was  nrtba  CBCiuiAMnd 
ftaii  Hsiated  by  4fae  pnaence  of  hi»  bemtifcd  tmt  fe^Ae  %cip- 
BBte ;  and  tite  fiul£f«l  «eup1e  we««  on  4te  point  flf  being 
emshed  1^  Ibe  4afge  (rf  ^  enemy,  'Mten  -thrA  aiAxMiNn 
bnightu  «addeidy  made  tjteir  appeaiance,  sod  ob  saddn^ 
turned  the  fortune  of  the  day.  Thefartof  HKwewaemotmlea 
<m  a  lim.  tfa  auuwd  «n  a  leopard,  aad  Ihe  UmA  on  a  mii- 
COTn.  ne  flmaeen  earaby,  M  Qte  finrt  si^  of  tiieae  ratex- 
peeted  — tagouMU,  diqiencd  in  all  directionB.  But  fligfat 
and  iiiairliiiw*!  weie  equdlyltopeleafl:  &ree'«nd-twenty  &ou- 
amd  nnbdieven  were  aoon  hid  l^clese  on  tfie  pinn  by  ttn 
talons  e(  the  lioa  and  lec^iard,  hj  tiie  resistleEa  horn  of  "ttie 
■metnn,  er  by  Ibe  swwd  <rf'  their  young  uid  intrepd  ndera-; 
and  the  amaS  iramaBt  tif  the  Baaaoen  army  wbo  escaped  from 
&e  general  eamage  quiddy  Bpread,  timn^i  every  comer  of 
file  Hahometan  o^ire,  tbe  new*  of  Has  mgnal  mid  "b^if 
minndeuB  Tietoiy. 

Kr  umimraa,  who  docs  ttot  secto  to  lia^^  posHcnuu  tht 
talent  of  vDX»cr«!^iag  mywtei'iea,  had  Tiercr  vuspeeted  that  his 
ttnee  mitacdwiB  aiEdiiaries  ircre  his  own  dnldicB,  -whom 
IVvvidenee  had  aent  to  his  assistmtee  at  liie  moment  ti  lot 
jtwleal  disbess;  but  he  was  itot  Ifae  less  thnnkfiil  when 
uiferaied  of  tbe  happy  termination  of  all  his  cdamitics.  fbn 
royal  family  were  rootaTed  in  the  city  widi  eveiy  dcmonsb&- 
bon  of  joy  by  his  penitent  sufagects,  ««boae  loyalty  had  been 
completely  revived  by  the  reewt  jmade.    Magnificent  en- 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


BTK  TBIMCOVS.  491 

tertammentafrere-pTCTided;  aflwiriiidlt,SirlBnmt»«a,h«»^ 
eofu^  orernm  'file  temtaries  of  hia  two  P^nn  nei^boBn 
wlio  had  beea  el^  in  IIk  last  Intde,  proceeded  to  coDqner  a 
third  kingdom  for  his  younger  Bon ;  and  the  Sam  monaccJia, 
nnitjfig  their  eSiata  for  iJif  propagatiDn  <^  the  bue  feitti, 
enjoyed,  at  tiie  rommtet  teU*  tu,  ]£e  liapp)&»«  af  Ht-yw 
ii^  the  hqitiim  af  d  liie  inhahkante  af  Ibdr  xsqsetive 

Tbey  livod  and  died  i«  gnd  mtaM; 
UntA  beaventiteir  soidii -went, 
When  &&!  they  dead  were. 
Jeeu  Chiiat,  lacaven's  king, 
QiTe  lis,  aye,  liis  bleeeiiig. 


Bia  TRIAMOUtt. 

Ike  iWiut  -«!  die  Mknrioc  xntoa  bu  iom  loade  ben  Oe  wpy 
»bdBd^iraiBml]^>l^,  cxHtbdntd  is  the  firitwh  UMcan.  Biikip 
BemMottiina  two  umb  frktlBd  copis  u-tattmi  ■■■«*^ti~n».nTjk.,— ■ 
■  lu'  is  -t^  pvbKc  lifaniT  ^  .Cvmbridge',  tnA  aw^hflr  bi  Hi  4mb  £mo. 
ItMwMa«fUS21iaei.  


to  tbe  good  Artone  of  WMoag  ft  ooifB,  lb  wtne  eoviaUe  faikitr 
<if  riwni«it  widi  ihe  miitMM  (tf  ilia  bwt,  <the  Isutiftl  ai^ 
B&cliB— te  Maignat,  But  perfect  hapfnneH  ii  not  gina  te 
huoauit^ ;  and  enn  Andaa  and  faia  tpiaan  ted  atiU  one  villi 

Sth«T  to  odier  in»de  Ar«at  moan, 
Far  children  together  nadtiiifnau^ 

B««ottMi  of  tbeir  t>od^; 
Thvetae  Hne  Jdng,  I  vadentond. 
Hade  a  vwr  to  go  to  the  H<^  UkI, 
Therefore  to  fight  and  to  gle. 
Thii  twdini  and  BPenwoted  naoiutian,  when  o 
the  qae«,  ffled  ha  witt  honor  and  dinaf .    I 
anzioas  uuut  her  hoaband  fiv  Uw  wwapletinn  «f  their  mutual 
widies,  ehe  dovhted  the -effioat^  «f  the  meaaa :  btt  Met;  Buggeated 
to  her  that  Heaven  mi^  poanUr  be  initated  fey  a  tow  evi- 
dently dicated  by  inp^ienoe;  and  her  afieotion  represented  in 
M^tfol  colours  the  iJMmiiii  to  -mUA  Indaa  wdbU  be  expooed, 
I  PriDtEd  bf  the  Perc7  Bocietr,  ed.  HiQiwdl,  1848. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


492  XARLT  INQI-ISH  KEtKIC^L   SOKAHGSB. 

wbila  emploTed  in  slsn^teriug  the  crowda  of  SuMena  whoM 
death  might  be  required  as  the  purchase  of  an  heir  to  the  crown 
of  Arragon.  But  neither  the  length  of  the  voyage,  the  hazards  of 
the  aea,  the  duigerH  of  an  ungenial  clinmte,  nor  the  multitnde 
and  ftrocitj  of  the  nnbelievera,  could  arrest  ^or  a  moment  the 
impetuodtf  of  the  king:  he  assiimed  the  croee,  assembled  an 
arnqr,  and  was  soon  ready  to  depart.  His  devotion  met  its  dne 
reward:  and  the  accurate  romancer  informs  as  that,  on  the  very 
last  ni^t  which  he  passed  with  his  queen,  his  tow  had  its  long- 
expected  operation ;  though  at  the  time  (as  the  historian  eagft- 
taoudy  adds)  they  were  both  unconscious  of  their  sucoeee. 

The  moment  of  sepBration,  however,  awakened  in  the  heart  of 
Aradas  all  those  sentijnentB  of  tenderness  which  the  hurry  of  his 
preparatione  had  nupended.  He  blended  his  tears  with  thoee  of 
nis  bdored  Margaret;  kissed  and  embraced  her  a  thonsand 
timet;  and,  efiet  having  taken  his  leave,  returned  again  and 
~  ~~  'n  to  repeat  his  assuiwioes  of  love  and  fidelity,  to  recommend 


kingdom,  that  no  pains  should  be  qtaied  to  alleviate  the  s 
otvie  queen  during  his  long  and  neoeasar;  absence. 

It  unfortunately  happen^  that  the  steward  Harrock,  to  whom 
this  impiHtant  charge  was  committed,  was  the  &lsest  steward 
tiiat  ever  abused  the  confidence  of  his  sovereign.  His  assidnity 
to  gratify,  and  even  to  anticipate,  the  wishes  of  Margaret  was, 
Iniued.  nnmnitting;  but  it  soon  appeared  that  his  attentions, 
instMa  of  bdng  dicated  by  leal  for  his  master,  were  the  result  of 
a  criminal  passion  for  the  queen.  Having  exhausted  all  thoee 
indirect  means  of  seduction  which  his  uimmited  power  in  the 
state  enabled  him  to  emptoj,  be  had  the  audacity  to  make  a  direct 
avowal  of  his  wishes,  and  r^>eated  his  solicitations  so  frequently, 
that  the  queen,  after  trying  m  vain  to  recall  him  to  a  sense  of  Ma 
duty,  was  obliged  to  threaten  him  with  the  instant  dJsclosnre  of 
hii  treason.  Marrock  now  changed  his  plan.  He  fell  on  hia 
knees,  entreated  her  to  forgive  and  to  oonceal  the  apparent  inso- 
lence of  a  oonduct  which,  as  he  pretended,  bad  been  intended 
only  as  a  trial  of  her  ooustancy ;  and  retired  with  the  resolution 
of  mining,  if  poa^ble,  the  victim  whom  be  was  uuaUe  to 
seduce. 

In  the  mean  time,  Aradas  was,  "  full  fkr  in  Heatheness,"  so- 
OOmplishii^  his  vow  by  tiie  alauKhter  of  numberless  Sarsoenfl, 
In  the  Heathen  Land,  and  also  in  Pagany, 
And  in  every  other  land  that  he  came  by. 

There  sprang  of  him  great  los. ' 
When  he  had  done  hia  pilgrimage. 
And  laboured  all  that  great  voyage, 
'Praii*. 


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BIB  TXtAJfOrB.  493 

With  ill  hii  good  will  and  libertt^ 

At  flome*  Jordim,  ud  at  Bethlem, 

And  at  CalTur  beaide  Jerusalem, 
In  all  the  pUoM  «r«a  he. 

Then  he  lon^d  to  oome  homft— 
and  each  had  been  the  rapidi^  of  hu  militarj  achierementa,  and 
■0  minonlous  was  the  praapent^  of  hi«  TOraffe,  that  he  turiTed  in 
his  daminiona  vrhile  iub  queen  was  still  ^  great  with  child," 
though,  it  may  be  preanmed,  in  daily  expectation  of  her  delivery. 
Never  did  the  lovely  Maigaret  aj>p^  so  lovelj_  in  his  eyes.  Hu 
ioj  knew  no  bounds ;  and  the  fiui  partner  of  his  throne  forgot,  in 
Ler  delight  at  her  lord's  return,  the  misery  she  had  endnred  fiW 
hit  abs^ce,  and  from  the  insolent  addrewee  of  the  traitor  Har- 
rock.  But  maUoe  is  more  provident;  and  the  utfiil  steward 
sdied  the  earliest  opportunity  of  carrying  into  effect  his  long- 
meditated  pnrpoee. 

At  bia  firat  interview  with  the  Idng,  he  boldly  asserted  that  the 
ohild,  to  whose  birth  he  looked  forward  witii  snoh  pleasure,  had 
bem  hcgotten  in  adultery;  and  when  Aradas.  astonished  at  this 
nnezpeoted  intelligeno&  reproached  him  wjtii  n^Ii&ence  of  his 
<diarge,  he  replied,  that  ha  also  had  loiw  been  duped  r>y  the  dis- 
limi£wion  <a  Mai^aret,  and  had  onf;  been  convinced  of  her 
inoontinenoe  ij  finding  her  in  the  arms  of  an  unknown  knisht 
whom,  in  the  first  transports  of  hie  indignation,  he  had  stabbed 
with  his  own  hand  He  added  that  the  qneen,  after  his  disoo- 
veiT,  had  spared  no  pains  to  seduce  him  into  a  participalaon 
of  her  guilt,  for  the  pnrpoee  of  insuring  his  secrecy ;  but  that 
his  sense  of  dnty  to  his  master  was  paramount  to  ever;  otiisi 
ocm^deration. 


instant  execution,  when  Marrock,  whose  calumny  might  have 
been  poenblv  disproved,  and  whose  Airther  views  woaJA  have 
been  uftllibly  prevented  hy  such  a  sentence,  interfered,  and  in- 
duced the  king  to  commute  the  punishment, 

Marrock  said,  '"niis  counsel  I ; — 

Banish  her  out  of  your  land,  tral;, 
Far  into  exile: 


Dehver  her  an  ambling  steed. 
And  an  old  knight  her  for  to  lead; 

Thus,  1^  ID7  oouQsel,  look  yon  i/o: 
And  give  them  lome  niending^ 
That  mar  them  out  of  the  la^  to-bing; 

I  would  no  better  than  so." 


J  L,  Google 


EASLT   KITGUBH  lUTBlC^I.  BOtTASOBB. 

He  did  hw  oUthe  ia  fu^  weai, 
And  Bet  hex  ob  mn  on  steed. 

That  WM  botii  orooked  aud  ttlmMt  blind; 
He  took  her  an  old  kniahty 
Kin  to  the  qiiwm,  and  Sir  fioger  hi{;ht, 

That  waa  notb  conrteoiu  ai^  kktd. 
TliBM  dkyt  h«  ga«B  them  Imtc  tu  paw; 
Aad,  aftw  thrt  iaj  wt  waa, 

If  men  might  tl^m  Gsd, 

i^r  gluald  b«  brenaed  alaik  dead, 
a,  vitb  flames  red : 

Thia  oauM  of  the  Bteifacd'a  mindJ 
Foitr  florinL  fill  their  expeuaa, 
Tha  kisg  bade  ^ve  tJiem,  in  hu  jnaeaM;. 
Lndedthemtt 


Tbeqn«^' 
In  »Hro,ii 


The  ]ad;r  mourned  as  ehe  should  die ; 

Vor  all  the,  die  that  net  irtij 
Se  hrad  with  har  so. 

Tha  qoeen  hegut  to  make  sorrow  and  e»r% 

When  riia  from  tJiE  king  aho«Ud  &m> 
With  mong,  against  ail  reason ; 

For  ihej  went,  in  number  three; 

Sic  Bogei,  the  queen,  and  the  gi^facnnid  truly ; 
Ah  \  wo  woFUi  the  wicked  treason ! 
It  mnj  be  propel  in  Idiia  place  to  aparise  the  reader  that  ibe 
SKpyhound,  wtto  is  thus  abruptly  introduoed,  had  been  bred  hj 
Bit  Roger ;  that  he  wa»  i«mwici^le  &om  hie  nnaoBinMni  size  aaa 
fleraeaew;  and  that  hie  unexampled  fidalit;  tu  hk  mastei  ren- 
dered him  irell  worthy  to  oooupj  the  distinguished  place  which,  ia 
■Netted  to  him  in  tha  sequel  of  the  stor^r. 

Whila  tiu  lave^  Marjnixet  was  bewailing  lur  unmerited  ■!»■ 
fi>rtaine*;  while  thie  good  Sir  Soger  w«a empk^ad  in  very  iinrltwi 
fdcaTOUW  to  eonaols  her ;  while  the  wh>^  nourt  of  AriiigMi  ma 
fhugti  in  sorrow  ud  coosteriiation  from  the  loss  of  its  bri^tM* 
oraament;  the  wicked  Itbirrock  wae  oooupied  in  pr^arin^  to 
seize  the  loaf^xpected  reward  of  his  Bacoaadul  villany. 

As  the  exiles  could  net  travel  with  much  ezpeditten,.  he  aaaiff 
got  the  start  of  ihem ;.  and  atatiauing  himself,  with  a  company 
of  eighteen  chosen  essoeiBtea,  in  the  first  forest  on.  their  way, 
euddenly  assailed  them,  in  the  hope  of  ei^y  overpowering  tha 
old  knight,  and  carrjing  off  the  def^oeleBs  Ma^uek.  But  Sir 
Boger,  though  unpro^ded  with  def^mve  anuour,  wielded  his 
sword  with  mioh  stiil  and  activity,  and  ww  so  peiMrftilly  assisted 
1^  his  dog,  who  "  full  bitt»ly  gaa  bi*e,"  that  Dw  SMb  began  to 
tiiiii  the  ruiks,  atkd  t»  oocav?  tha  whole  attentiM  of  hw  assailuita. 
Fourteen  of  them  had  &llen  beiie«tb  tha  sMid  aC  the  brave  ohl 
imight,  when  Marrook,  suddenlji  attacking  him  from  behind, 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


■" "■ tuiBa,  ipHMV  ftwB  Her  hxwt,  and  concealea  heri^ 


A  woDnda  tb*  lifeha»sutkoi  of  tiieir  dnipomtmeiit.' 

Manrat,  beu^  ^  tangtit  aonntited  of  tiietr  letnat  inun 

&om  W  hiding-plua,  im4  ftmnil  til*  Bvdjr  of  her  knii^t,  gac- 

MticmaC  WMlunity^abe  beMme-dmortfritntio  with  griet^  ton 
)te  haE.  and  biWwriy  MpiOBchett  horclf  fbr  hayine  ocoasioned 
tteiwrt  of  ba  gMuwit  p^iCeetor.  At  length,  airdaning  to  a 
ana*  of  ba*  (RWent  daagBF,  she  ran  to  seise  nerhonK,  which  had 
fat^uMf  reaainoJi  nhtre  Ae  left  him,  and  tiien  endeavnuT^ 
•■•Man  t&e  compMj'  of  Iba  dog,  as  a  gaide  thrmgfa  Uie  ibntt 
I91  aUdi'  aha  waa  eBcompaned ;  but  the  faithAii  uumal  aeemed 
iiHtteBtm  ta  hn^  nntKO,  Hitt  reftuect  to  ahandtia  the  bodf  of 

%e  nid^  "  8)T  Bogerj  now  tlioii  art  desd^ 
Who  BhEill  now  the  n^t  na;  leadl 

IFor  tiMB  QiaTHt  Hpeai  no  mon  J" 
B^t  on  the  gmima,  there  a»  he  1^  dmi, 
9ia  hintd  him,  ere  ^  ftvm  him  T«de; 

God  wo^  h»  heart  mw  wi»: 
WhatferBemtv  a«d  diaa<^ 
FmK  awaf  ^  gan- h^  8p«wl^ 

Bhe  viat  not  whither  ne  wh»e : 
The  flaodgnif^Mnid,  for  weal  na  wi^ 
Voald not  £n>  tile  kiught  go; 
it  I»f  aad  lidted  Itie  wound : 


AnA  tfatreta  be  <M  his  pain ; 
I*,  MiA  !«*«' i>  in  a  hovnd ! 
gg  W  iwif  id  a  nit  fefrtw  dead  bw^y,  cOTgred  it  wiSi  moK  sni 
hw»Wt  andgnanM  i*  wiA  sMfltMi*  atcention,  eicnit  during  the 
fiBWwbeniiei«aa«nflD^ittie«ariBghi»own  Brrbaistcnce. 

Mamaxtjli,  uater  die  goidanoe  of  ^eridenoe,  continued  ha 
mtr^  aad  Mrivad,  qaita  ntanuated  wi^  fatigue  and  want,  on 
te  bodaw  ol  HiiBgia7 ;'  whne,  hsring  ali^ted  from  hec  itone 
afetteaatraaoe  of  »  woaiil  ehewaa-ei^aBBlj  tden  in  labanr,  and 
dtfnaedofaheaatiflilbw.  Ihia  wwanrwaadftraD  hersntfer- 
inga.  The  Snt  eeundi  of  ber  iafcaf  b  Toiee>,  tte  fint  vimr  of  ihi 
ibaturea,  at  once  e»Md  all  leMe  rf  bar  horilHHFs  injuBlice^  of  fler 

from  the  suthoni  of  thete  n 


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MAMLT  ursUSK  XET*1CAI  MOIUMCMM. 


Aom  am^  ft  tree,  and,  with  fall  reluiioa  od  tbe  protoctktt  «( 

Hmtcd,  whose  menaea  had  hitherto  giuttded  ber,  qiuatly  iMgoad 

berMlftodc«ii. 

Id  tha  (teta  iho  was  diMoverad 

Benaid  de  ManaenTue,  who,  in  pan. ^ , 

pbee  of  her  retreat  Having  for  aome  time  oMiteniplat«lwith 
attirninhfitfmt  the  beantj  of  h«r  peraon  and  the  magnifieaiM  of 
ber  drai,  vhidt  to  ill  accorded  with  the  miaenUe  appeanuioe  of 
ber  horae  and  htt  total  want  of  attendanti,  bia  Mnrtaaj  lad  him 
tntempt  her  dmnbcn  for  the  pnrpoaa  of  offering  her  that 
DBtanoe  of  which  aha  evidently  wm  m  imntadiata  want;  vti. 


after  hearing  to  much  of  her  hlstraj  ai  ibe  thoo^t  fit  to  « 
nicate,  placed  ber,  with  her  ddld,  <Hk  his  horaa,  conducted  her  ta 
Us  easue,  and  tuMinnted  for  her  serrioe  a  reanne  soited  to  ber 
Tank.  Ber  dilMwas  duistened  bj  tbe  name  of  Triamoor,  and 
tbe  little  orphan  aoon  became  Um  general  broorite  of  tbecasQe; 
trhile  Hargaie^  conatantl;  tieated  as  a  sora^;n,  and  daOy  oeen- 
laed  with  the  edneatien  of  ho-  son,  experienced  a  de^«e  id 
napinnesa  and  banqulQi^  which  she  had.  nerer  ei^i^ed  in  the 
pomeaaion  of  the  throne  of  Anagon. 

.  We  moat  now  ratum  to  the  grave  of  Sr  Boger.  for  whoee  mur- 
der the  band  irf'  HesTen  was  preparing  to  wreu  ita  vengeance  on 
the  head  of  the  wicked  Sr  HuTock.  Tbe  fiuthM  grejhouid, 
iriiom  we  left  on  the  bodj  of  His  master,  had  continued,  doiii^ 
seven  Tears,  to  occnpr  his  poet,  which  m  only  quitted  fear  the 
pQTTiose  of  seeking  his  duly  aahastenoa  As  bis  loej  diminisbe^ 
tbelei^thof  his  chase  gtsdaaOj  incieased;  an£  at  the  dose  w 
&t  seventh  jmt,  at  tbe  fcstiva]  of  CbHstmaL  he  saddenly  ap- 
peared, gannt  with  honger,  an  unexpected  visitor  in  the  hall  of 
thekingof  ArragoiL  8a<di  an  ^iparition  ezdied  geoei^  snipria^ 
■ad  particiilarir  attracted  the  attention  at  Aradaa:  bat  the 
animal,  with  a  gentleneaa  of  demeanont  whidi  belied  his  savwe 
VpeanuHw,  made  the  round  <tf  tbe  taUea  and  dia^tpeared.  He 
returned  on  the  second  div,uajn  snrveyed  tiie  orannanj,  reoeivsd 
his  i^ttance,  and  retreated.  The  king  now  lecoOected  the  dog,  and 
gave  ordera  to  his  attendants  that,  if  he  dinild  again  retam, 
thej  shonld  follow  him  without  loea  of  time,  in  the  oMifidenoe 
that  he  would  lead  them  to  the  place  where  Sir  Roger  and  the 
qaeen  were  aecreted.  On  the  thini  daj  of  the  feativaL  the  haD 
was  filled  at  an  earty  hour,  and  ffir  Harrock,  for  the  fint  tim^ 
took  his  seat  among  tbe  guests.  The  greyhound  too  did  not  fitil 
to  repeat  his  visit,  and,  with  the  rapiditr  ot  li^tning,  inatantlj 
BiHang  upon  the  murderer  of  his  master. 

He  took  the  steward  by  Uie  thnat, 

And  mmder  be  it  bote ; 


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SIK  TRIAKOinL  497 

But  then  he  would  not  "bide: 

For  to  this  grave  he  ran ; 

There  fullomd  him  many  a  muL 
Same  on  horse,  and  some  bedde. 

And  when  he  came  where  hia  master  waa, 

Ee  laid  him  down  upon  the  grasa. 
And  barked  at  the  men  ^(^d. 
The  crowd  who  had  followed  him,  being  unable  to  drive  him 
from  the  Bpot,  returned  with  the  tidings  to  the  Hag,  who  instantly 
comprehended  the  whole  mvBter)r.  He  directed  Uiem  to  d^  for 
the  Dody,  which  thej  readily  found,  and  which  had  be«n  mirs- 
oulousl^  preserved  in  such  a  state  of  perfection  as  to  b«  eadlj 
recognized.  It  was  then  buried  in  holv  ground  with  oil  das 
solemnity,  and  the  faithful  dog  ahoiil^  aRer  expired  on  the  tomb 
which  was  raised  to  the  memory  of  lus  master.  Tbe  body  of  Si 
Hanock,  after  being  dragged  through  the  town,  was  hanged  npon 
K  gibbet,  and  messeugert  were  dispatched  in  evei^  direction  to 
proclaim  these  acta  of  justice,  to  inquire  for  the  muooent  Mar- 
garet, and  to  raetore  her  to  that  throne  from  which  she  had  been 
80  cruelly  and  unjustly  driven.  But  the  messengeTS  returned 
vithont  bearing  any  titungs  of  the  queen ;  and  the  unfortunate 
Aradas  was  downed  to  expiate,  by  many  years  of  contrition  aod 
reroorw,  tbe  fiital  and  precipitate  decision  by  which  he  had  thrown 
ftway  the  means  of  happiness. 

In  tbe  mean  time,  tne  joung  Triamour  received  an  excellent 
education  in  tbe  castle  of  Sir  Bernard,  being  instructed  in  all  Uio 


arts  of  courtesy  under  the  careful  eye  of  his  mother,  and  by  Sir 
Bernard  himadf  in  bS  the  accompUshmenta  preparatory  to  Ota 
exercise  of  chivalry.  He  had  scarcely  finished  his  fourteenth  fear, 
when  he  was  considered,  by  the  little  court  in  which  be  lived, 
as  a  model  of  beauty,  strength,  and  activity ;  and  baring  sur- 
passed all  bis  voutbful  competitora,  he  became  impatient  toi  aa 
Dpportuni^  of  trying  bis  powers  m  a  conflict  with  adversaiitt 
more  worthy  of  his  prowess.    His  wishes  were  soon  gratified. 

The  king  of  Hungary  died  at  an  advanced  age,  leaving  an  only 
daughter  to  inherit  his  vast  possessions.  Ber  early  beanty  had 
occaffloued  ber  to  be  univerBaUv  known  by  tbe  name  of  the  bit 
Helen;  and  she  bad  inst  entered  on  ber  fifteenth  year,  when  aha 
was  called  to  wield  tlie  sceptre  of  a  kingdom  surrounded  by  pow- 
erfiil  and  ambitious  neighbours,  to  whose  attacks  tbe  posws  ' 
of  ber  person  was  likely  to  prove  an  additional  inducement. 
waa  therefbre  advised  by  her  council  to  choose,  without  delay,  a 
partner  of  the  throne,  who  should  be  capable  of  defending  it 
against  all  competition ;  and  as  she  felt  no  predilection  for  any  of 
her  numerous  admirers,  she  ordered  the  proclamation  of  a  touraa* 
ment,  to  be  holden  at  the  usual  period  of  six  numths,  fbr  tbs 
porpoM  of  aaoertaimng  the  roocesiM  candidate. 

iK 
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WTBICAK  BOIUirOES. 

The  news  of  thU  gnat  event,  bang  ^pooUr  spread  throwh 
Europe,  reached  Tritiiiioui  m  hw  retKal.  He  hutened  to  Str 
Bemurd,  md  eameatl;  rMuested  the  lova  of  a  hone  and  ftrmoar, 
that  he  might  be  enablea  to  enter  the  liste,  irfiere  he  tnuted 
that  his  condnct  wonid  not  di^raoe  the  lemcau  of  hia  kind  pre- 
oepbir :  and  the  good  kui^tt,  &ft«r  Mme  >dmonitioTB^  intended  to 
temper  and  mo&rate  rather  than  to  repreea  his  eagemeaa,  not 
onlj  oonMnted  to  fiimiih  him  with  Hie  aecettaxj  accootnoMBtH, 
bvt  promised  to  accompany  him  to  tite  fidd  of  honour. 

Triamoar,  haTiu  otnnpleted  hii  preparatioM,  tiirew  hhnodf  at 
the  feet  of  hiB  motner,  and  implored  her  blessing  on  thii  his  fovt 
oiterpriae.  But  her  cofuent  waa  not  easUj  oMained.  TlniBder- 
■truck  at  the  proepeoC  ot  eaA  a  audden  aeparatioii,  and  amn  trf' 
all  the  dangere  attendant  on  the  eareer  on  triiich  he  was  bow 
etitering,  she  eadeavoured,  widi  tears  and  loficitations,  to  diiul 
Um  from  his  puntose;  till  fin^n^  faim  mtahenblj  Sxei,  Bud 
hftTing  obUined  u>e  protmse  of  hu  apeedf  retom,  die  «m  «t 
lei^th  oompelled  to  aoquiesce,  and  rehictantlj  OOliBigiied  lum  t« 
tin  oaie  of  ^  Bernard. 

nien  was  tiie  fi^  la^  «t 

Full  high  vpea  a  tnrrat, 
For  to  bddd  that  jtej: 

niere  wM  matrj  a  aemlfy  kni^it, 

Prinoee,  dukes,  and  lorda  rfnigiit, 
nMrnadvee  for  to  aanT; 

mHi  bdmea  en  tfaeir  beadea  brixM, 

That  an  tSie  fidd  ihone  on  thai,  fight ; 
Tb»j  were  eo  gtont  and  caj. 
n  ii  muteeeesarj  to  onnmeiate  the  munpionB  who  tcmAk  m 
the  tiiree  daTS  of  this  tournament,  because  tSte  reader  wm  «»- 
dnde  that  h  attracted  all  who  were  distingoiahed  br  their 


and  ilist   all   were   snonewivelT  oTeitimiw&  In-  tne  iii'PMH 
Tiismour.    At  ea<A  exploit,  6ir  Bernard  pioeiaimed  aloa^  fat 
the  information  of  the  hetalda,  tbe  name  of  Um  unknowti  aaien- 
tnier,  and 

ViSx  Helen  tiiat  waa  k>  mild. 

More  Ae  beheld  IFriamoor  toe  oiiild, 
Rian  all  Uie  other  men. 
Before  the  coaolnsion  of  the  fint  da^  die  began  to  fed  faondf 
warmlj  interested  in  his  aucoen,  and  tiaa  intineat  inure  Med  to 
•nch  B.  degree  as  to  render  her  a  most  anxiDns  spectator  of  the 
xemaininK  oombata,  whicb  were  to  decide  lArther  her  hand 
riiDDld  be  ultimate^  aDotted  to  tbe  hero  on  whom  her  hart  wae 
already  bestowed.  She  be^ld  therefore  with  transports  of  J3f 
fiw  ultimate  trinmph  of  Jjtin^  Triamcnr,  and  retired  fram  the 
tmmuuDent  in  tbebspe  of  faaihns  him  ontbemoTTow  as  kJ»of 
Hui^arj,  and  of  reonving  fahn  nsMr  fanshHid.  Bat  Fate  haiife- 
oeea  turt  her  wiafaes  shoold  not  be  quite  so  speediljr  MMxmiifiAed. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


AmonK  the  combAtuita  at  the  tovmameiit  were  hro  knighbL 
-who  hua  entered  the  hsta  with  very  diSereat  purposea.  Oke  ^ 
these  wa«  Ar&du.  who  had  been  nttntcted  to  the  oeremoQ;  psrtlj 
hf  the  hopea  of  nearing,  at  suoh  a  cosoouree  of  BtrangerB,  Bonte 
tidings  of  hie  loog-kirt  Mai^aret,  and  partlj  in  the  view  of  mis- 
pending,  amidst  the  tumult  aud  fiUigne  of  AnnB,  thoM  aentimoite 
of  grief  and  Temmsa  bf  whioh  he  vae  inoeaMiktl^  tormmited.  Oa 
thefintdajihehadbeenewagedonihe  nine  Bide  with  Triamour, 
whose  valour  uid  activity  be  had  beheU  with  admintiaa.  Om 
4^  Becond,  hanng  tried  hii  f<wce  with  him,  he  had  been  auddenlj 
unhoreed;  which  onlj  increased  his  esteem  for  his  advenarj. 
The  other  knight  was  Sir  Jamea,  son  of  the  emperor  of  Oermauf, 
wlw,  being  assured  bj  his  oourtiers  tihat  be  was  the  most  pedset 
knight  in  the  worlcL  had  projected  to  begin  hie  career  of  chival^ 
by  Dverthrowing  all  bia  competitore  in  the  present  tounuuteat, 
Uld  If  BeiEing  the  beantifiil  Helen  and  the  orown  of  Hungaiy. 
fi^  with  these  view^beiiad  ^icountored  tJie  lanoe  ef  TriamouT; 
■nd  bad  been  thrown  to  a  oonaidersble  distance  in  t^  fieldj 
MVerel;  bruiied,  and  omellj  mortified.  As  the  law  of  tournaments 
did  not  pennit  iiirn  b>  enter  the  lista  a  aeoond  time  wiUi  his 
oonqaeroc,  be  datennined  to  kill  him  a&er  the  oeiemonj ;  andj 
whoa  the  combatants  prepared  to  retiie  to  thdr  Imts,  oollMtad 
xH  bis  adberoBts,  assauad  Tiiamour,  who  was  enl;  aooMnpanied 
1^  Sir  Bernard,  aud  gave  him  a  dangerous  wound  in  the  thigh. 
Alt,  at  tbe  same  moioent,  tbe  qwar  ^  Triamour  met  tlu  boe  i^ 
Sir  Jamee,  passed  iiito  his  brain,  aad  laid  him  liieleas  <ai  the 
nonnd.  His  aH<ind«nte  then  attacked  the  two  knights,  whom 
wer  hoped  to  sacrifioe  to  tbe  manes  «f  tlwir  alaughtoied  nutter ; 
and  Tnamonr,  weakened  W  the  L»b  of  blood,  must  have  bsen 
finally  overpowered  bv  the  saperioritr  of  numbei^  had  he  aot^ 
been  Tesaued  by  Sir  Aradas,  wbo,  comiiur  up  with  bis  oorapan;^ 
pot  an  end  to  the'iuieqnal  conflict.  Sir  Beraard  only  staid  in  lui  '' 
tent  till  be  had  bound  up  his  frimd's  wound,  and  then  hanti^ml 
to  his  castle,  and  oonsinud  him  to  the  cure  ol  Haisaret  H>d  to. 
the  skin  of  the  bert  leedKi  which  ttu  coaintiT  could  &Qiah. 

(hi  the  following  daj  the  ocmbatauts  rqnired  to  the  palaoa  to. 
bear  the  decision  of  the  fiur  Helen,  Mho  ms  equally  suiprisMl  and 
nwtifiod  at  beng  nn*Ma  to  discover  Mm«g  t^  compaM  tibA 

Ertoo  of  Kr  Tiiuuour,  or  toleamtiie  oauaeof  his  absmoe.  ^la 
wever  represented  to  the  aompany  Uiat  "she  was  bound  to 
abide  by  tho  oonditions  of  the  tcMmament  which  she  had  herself 
fixed;  that  she  WM  now  become  tbe  pMper^ of  the  victor,  tbaagh 
he  was  at  present  pievait«l,  by  sonfte  ankaowB  impediment,  frrau 
in^ferring  his  claim;  aad  that  ^ must  at  iMst  suspend  her deoi- 
■ion  for  a  year  and  a  day,  an  intaml  wUidi  the  law  of  arms  had 
■eoQied  to  him,  before  his  righto  coald  be  fiirfeited  by  his  non- 
appearanoe."  Xbiaftuni^baiissbi^VQiunDsntto  usage,  was 
2x2 

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500  EARLY   ENGLiaH   UETSICA.I.   BOKAKCES. 

mnuumouiljooniiniied  by  the  persona  preseut,  and  fair  Helen  ma 
relief  t^l,  for  the  tine,  frtnn  the  persecutioiu  of  hsr  auitorsL 

While  tbe  IdtsIj  princem  of  Uuugvj,  being  totallj  unso* 
quainted  with  the  tngical  termination  of  tbe  tournament,  waa 
bewailing  the  unaccountable  diBappearanoe  of  her  lover;  and 
while  the  tender  Margaret  was  lamentinff  the  wound  of  her  son; 
the  body  of  Sir  James  wu  carried  to  the  emperor,  whose  whole 
court  waa  pliiD«;ed  in  tmnatemation  b;r  the  low  of  the  hero  whose 
triumph  thef  had  bo  confidently  anticipated.  The  unfortanatA 
&ther  could  feel  no  alleviation  of  his  grief  but  from  the  hopee  of 
vengeance  on  the  murderer ;  of  whom,  however,  he  only  learnt 
that  hi  was  called  8b  Triamour,  and  had,  before  hia  last  fatal 
encounter  with  Sir  Jamea,  aucceasively  overthrown  all  the  hraveet 
kni^ta  in  Chriatendom.  But  it  appeared  that  6Qr  Aradaa  waa  at 
leartan  aooeaeoryto  the  deed;  ana. the  emperor  determined  to 
waah  out  tbe  diagrace  of  hia  aon'a  death  in  the  blood  of  that 
DUmandi  and  of  iSl  the  Arragoneae.  He  collected  the  vaaaata  <^ 
Um  eminre,  and  uniting  auch  an  army  as  Aradaa,  Dotwithatanding 
hig  skill  and  bravery,  waa  unable  to  oppose,  overran  hia  whtde 
territory,  and  finallv  beaieged  him  in  hia  princi  pal  fortreaa. 

Here,  however,  toe  defenders,  being  pleutifiillj  supplied  wiUi 
proviaionB,  and  guided  by  an  erperieni»d  warrior,  who  underatood 
all  the  advantages  of  bis  situation,  were  more  nearly  on  a  par  vrith 
their  aaaailantg.  The  emperor  daily  led  bis  men  to  the  assault,  and 
Aradaa,  vUA  ^m  and  great  dortet  nmnd,  as  conatantly  drove  them 
baid:  to  their  trenchea ;  so  that  at  tbe  end  of  seven  weeks  Uie 
riege  had  made  no  viable  prograas.  But  both  parties  were 
become  tired  of  tbe  war.  The  kin^  of  Arragon  sent  an  embassy 
to  the  imperial  camp,  to  assert  his  innooence  with  respect  to  the 
death  of  Sir  JameSj  which  he  waa  ready  to  prove  either  in  penoD, 
in  angle  combat  with  the  emperor  himself,  or  by  champions  to  be 
choeen  by  tbe  two  parties ;  and  the  latter  proposal  being  readih 
aooepted,  and  a  day  appointed  for  the  decision  of  the  miarrel,  iJl 
hoatuitica  were  auapended.  A  giant,  of  the  name  of  Marradae, 
was  ohosen  by  the  emperor;  and  Aradaa  sent  hia  measengen 
in  every  direction  in  search  of  Triamour:  but  they  all  returned 
witiiont  sucoeaa;  and  tlie  torma  of  the  truce  being  neaHy 
eifiired,  the  unfbrtuaate  Aradas  prepared  to  submit  to  the  &te 
which  awaited  him  from  the  vengeance  of  hia  implacable  enemy. 

When  Triamour  was  whole  and  Kund, 

And  wall  healed  of  hia  wound, 
He  busked  him  for  to  bre. 

"HoQierj"  he  said,  with  '^d  obeer, 

"An  I  wist  what  my  ftther  were, 
The  leas  were  my  care." 

"Son,"  abe  aaid,  "thou  sbalt  wete 
When  thou  hHLmanied  th«t  lady  sweet; 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


Thj  fiUher  than  iluJt  ken." 
"Mother,"  he  Baid,  "if  he  wiJl  n, 
Havo  K<>od  daj;  for  now  I  r(^ 

To  So  maietiien,  if  I  can, 
',  kocompuiied  bj  three  eii 

.._ m  ftirert  to  forert,  in  chuc  _ 

poilooB  adventures,  ti]l  he  arrived  in  Arregon,  after  a  toilsome 
jonmej,  in  which  his  ta«te  for  danger  and  amuBement  had  be«n 
am-^y  gratified.  Here,  being  in  piireuit  of  an  hart  of  unoammon 
eiie,  he  was  saddenly  Mpied  and  asBaulted  br  a  troop  of  thirteen 
well  armed  foresters.  He  attempted  in  vain  oj  remonstrance,  and 
even  br  bribes,  to  prevent  this  interruption  of  his  chase ;  tber 
insistea  on  hurrTins  him  to  prison  for  trespasung  on  the  rovu 
ibreat,  and  attacked  him  with  such  vigour  that  he  was  oompelled 
to  resiBtance.  He  then  asmnilted  them  in  his  turn,  killed  lonM: 
wounded  others;  put  the  rest  to  flight;  resumed  the  pursuit  of 
his  grefhonnds,  two  of  whom  were  aLreadv  mired  bj  the  a«er ;  and 
arrived  just  in  time  to  rescue  the  thiia  b;  shooting  the  animal 
while  at  bay.  Be  then  blew  his  horn,  according  to  custom,  in 
token  of  succcM. 

Aradae,  now  hopeless  of  succour,  had  retired  with  his  court  to  a 
"manor"  in  this  forest,  in  tha  hopes  of  disdpatuig  his  chagrin  b]r 
the  pleasures  of  the  diase ;  and  Uie  blast  of  Triamour'a  horn  waa 
dictmctlf  heard  in  the  hall,  where  it  excited  no  smsil  d^ree  of 
astonishment.  At  the  same  time  arrived  a  forester  "with  evil 
cheer,"  who  reported  that  an  intruder  was  just  arrived  in  the 
forest,  had  killed  one  of  the  king's  deer,  and  had  maimed  or  de- 
BtroTed  a  doien  of  his  game-keepers. 

Oood  King  Aradaa  said  than, 
"I  have  much  need  of  soch  a  mani 
God  hath  him  hither  brooghtl" 
The  king  commanded  knightee  three, 
He  said,  "  Go  fetch  that  gentleman  to  mo 

That  is  now  at  his  pla^. 
Look  none  ill  words  to  him  ja  break, 
But  praj  him  with  me  for  to  speik ; 

I  trow  he  will  not  saj  nay." 
Bverr  knight  his  steed  bent. 
And  lightlj  to  the  wood  they  went, 

To  seek  Triamour,  that  child ; ' 
They  found  him  by  a  water  wdc, 
Where  he  brake  the  beast  that  tide. 
That  hart  that  was  so  wild. 
The  three  knights  executed  their  commission  witJi  beooming 
oonrteqr;  and  Tnamour,  having  first  inquired  &b  name  of  the 

>  A  jralh  tinned  to  inn*. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


fiv2  EAXLT  XKGUSH  ICBTBICIX  SOHUTCES. 

conntry,  and  of  the  monardi  irtto  govnntd  i^  iwdilf  conwikted 
to  accompany  them  t«  th«  hall,  vhere  he  was  noia^A  with  the 
moeit  fiattering  distiiiotion.  Be  instantlj  leoc^niscd.  in  Amdaa, 
the  penon  to  whoae  unettaet,  daring  hisoonflict  wiUt  %r  James, 
^  (nred  hit  li&;  and,  on  bung  ipiaationed  on  his  name  and  oaan- 
trj,  oowrieoailj  remiodad  tke  kiog  of  thii  importani  obtigation. 
Aradaa  was  so  oTW-jajed  at  fisdiitg  Trianuut,  that  ha  Bwooaad 
three  timea  BUOceealTelf ;  and  thainlatod  to  hiin  the  diatreMea  he 
haJ  andaigane  ainoe  th^  last  raarting,  and  the  eonditioBa  va 
which  he  had  obUioad  a  truoe  from  w  mapmtijr.  Trianwnr,  of 
oottTM,  aocepted  with  jojtbe  defoooeof  a  oaiue  whioh  he  knew  to 
be  jast ;  Andaa,  full  cJ  oonfideuoe  in  the  vigom  of  his  ohampion, 
waa  Bt>  longer  aolicitous  about  the  empeFor  and  his  giant ;  and  the 
ootut  of  Airagon  eihilated,  duriag  the  shrat  iuterral.  which  pie' 
•edcd  the  combat, »  contjoued  soene  of  bstivity. 

On  the  moming  of  thia  important  evrnt,  Andaa  oonfeired  on 
Triamoui  the  digmtf  of  knuhthood,  irith  whioh  he  had  not  yet 
been  inieeted,  i^  witre^ed  him  to  aooept  the  inheiitauoa  of  all 
thoee  domittiona  which  he  was  now  preparing  to  defend.  Both  the 
chunpioi 


eanae;  and,  mouoling  their  heaves,  awaited  in  ailenae  the  ng»al«f 
attM^ 

l!hen  rode  they  together  fiill  righty 
*       With  aharpe  gpeara,  and  gwoidee  twight; 
Thej  smote  together  sore: 

Thej  spent  ipearea  and  brake  ihialdaj 

They  pounsea  ae  fowl  in  the  lialdsi 
Either  foamed  as  doth  a  boar. 
The  contest  was  long  and  obstinate^  Triaraour,  haTiug  acciden- 
tally killed  the  horae  ^  Sir  Mjuradae,  wae  eeverelj  taunted  by  the 
giant  for  hia  want  of  addreaa;  and,  intUmantly  ^^liaging  to  the 
crountL  renewed  the  combat  on  foetL  The  great  stzength  of  Sir 
Marradae,  which  was  seconded  bjconsdwable  BkiU  and  experience, 
continued  for  some  hoHra  te  render  the  victor;  doubtliil ;  and  both 
began  to  grow  laint  with  fittigue  attd  Ia«  of  blood;  but  at  last 
Sir  Triomoor,  recollecting  that  he  had  on  that  day  receiTed  the 
honour  of  knighthood,  suddenly  reaeraad  alX  hia  powers,  and, 
TFresBing  on  bu  eihwuted  adTersary,  (nerced  him  to  the  heart. 
The  innocence  of  Aradaa  waa  thus  finally  made  nianifeat ;  the 
emperor  gave  him  the  kiaa  of  pea««^  and  retiied  with  hia  army; 
while  Triamonr  returned  in  triumph  witb  the  king  into  thec^tel 

Aiadae  became  daily  more  and  more  attached  to  his  ddiv«Rr, 
and  endeavoneed  to  fix  him  neat  hia  person  by  the  ofEer  af  aa 
immediate  participation  of  the  sovereignty ;  but  Triaraour,  uuioua 
to  return  into  Hnngarjr  with  aarao^e^adibon  at  the  adTeotona 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


OM  ISIAXOUB.  HI 

lAJchhabqwd  to&cUne  onUa  waj  iroald  penoii,  hubenad  to 
(tapuL  aOv  MKWytinfc  u  the  reward  gf  hi»  serviocs,  an  excellent 
suit  of  atmoor,  a  Bom  of  monej,  and  the  best  hone  in  the  rojil 
stable. 

No  impediment  ocoaied  on  Iub  journey  tiD  he  arrived  near  the 
frontien  of  HunguiT,  when,  or,  entering  a  paes  in  the  mountains, 
he  met  a  palmer,  who  asked  Lim  for  almE.  Sir  Tri&mour  made 
him  a  most  liberal  preeent;  and  the  pilgrim,  in  letum,  eamestlj 
requested  him  to  change  his  roate,  which  oeuld  not  but  prove 
filial  to  him,  as  it  led  to  a  pass  Kuarded  by  two  nonts  of  uupaial- 
hied  strength  and  ferocity.  'The  young  knight,  hearing  that 
Ihae  were  only  two,  rqniced  in  ttie  prospect  of  snoh  an  adTOi- 
tore;  took  leave  of  the  palmer;  set  spun  to  his  horse;  and  gars 
S  riiriD  blast  with  his  hom,  to  advertise  the  ensny  of  his  a^ 
BToacA. 

The  signal  was  soon  answered,  and  t*o  giants  wen  dneovereJ 
on  a  neighbouring  eminence,  one  of  whom  rode  forwani,  with  hn 
bnse  in  arres1~  to  meet  Sir  Triamour,  white  tbe  other  remained 
behind,  as  (fisdainiiig  t«  join  in  the  attack  of  a  single  adversary. 
Bst  astonished  at  the  strength  and  course  of  Sir  friamoar,  ha 
Soddenly  caoie  down  to  pait  the  combatant^  and  to  inqnire  the 
UMse  of  the  doaghty  knight  Sir  Triamour  insiBted  on  first 
Knowing  theiis,  and  they  condescended  to  inform  him,  "  that  the^ 
were  two  of  foot  brothers,  one  of  whom  was  Marradas;  ttiat  their 
elder  brother  Biuiong  whs  at  that  moment  befi^ing  the  princess 
of  Eangary,  the  mistress  of  a  eertiun  Triamonr,  the  morderer  of 
Marradas ;  and  that  the^  had  ocoupied  that  ^ass  in  the  moantains 
in  the  hope  of  intercepting  this  adventure,  if  he  ehonld  be  bold 
enough  to  attempt  the  rescue  of  Mr  Helen  by  entering  the  lists 
witii  Burlong."  ffir  Triamour,  having  repaid  their  courtesy  by 
M  saoally  oiidid  avowal  of  his  name  and  intentions,  was  in- 
HuBkbf  attadud  ^  the  two  giairis,  both  of  whom  he  killed  aftet 
«a  iilsiliiiiiilii  eaamet ;  and  then  hastened  forwards  to  the  c^taL 
el  Hungao^,  wUdb  be  found  blockaded  bv  the  army  of  Burlong. 

Bis  amiat  was  very  oppoitai&  Tna  day  of  eondiat  waff 
arned;  tlK  lists  w«re  sat;  Burtoi^r  vmed  at  all  peinta,  had 
ahndy  dsmsBidad  the  dNtn^onef  Hungary;  and  the  ^i  Helen 
•OBtAs^siwiur, 

"  itlmmata  be  afiv^ 

Hither  will  be  oooas  belive : 
Qod  send  us  ence  to  ^eed  \" 

The  ^iant,  confident  tikat  tus  DiatherB  would  efiectually  prevent 
the  amval  of  any  BDSoour  to  the  princess,  anticipated  the  triumph 
which  a  few  hotna  would  ensure  to  him,  when  an  unknown  knight, 
fieroeir  riding  np  to  him,  challengBd  the  lady,  and  defied  him  to 
mortal  oombat.  Tha  lists  wne  instantiy  deaj«d ;  and  the  prin- 
cess, observing  fnan.  bar  tower  Uke  movementa  in  the  besiegiag' 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


fi04  ZAXLT  ZKOUSB  HBtSICAK  SOIU.XCBB. 

nrny,  inquired  o!  her  attendsnta  if  thej  ooold  reeognizs  the 
ttnngcs  who  thiu  gkllantl;  prepved  to  expow  his  lib  for  her 
ddiTennoe. 

A  griffon  be  beantb  of  all  Une : 

An  henU  of  armi  soon  faim  knoir, 

And  wid,  ftnon  ri^it, 

"  AUdame.  God  liath  matt  jmi  mooonr, 

For  jonoer  is  Sr  IMunonr 

That  with  Builong  will  Sgbt !" 


At  the  MKind  of  the  trumpet,  the  two  (dianipions  nulled 
twether.riuTered  their  apoan  uid  then,  dnwing  their  sworda, 
w^anced  to  cloeer  oomMt.     VictAr^  waa  long  undocided;   bat 


Bir  Triamour,  having  aimed  at  the  giant  a  ftulouB  blow  which  h» 
artfuUj  eluded,  unfortunately  lost  hi»  gword,  find  the  heart  of 
hii  Ileleu  Bunk  within  her.  The  knight  himself  not  at  all 
intimidated  bj  the  accident,  calmly  demanded  permission  to 
resume  his  weapon,  that  the  battle  might  be  renewed  on  eqnal 
tenns ;  and  Burlong  promised  his  consent,  on  condition  of  learn- 
ing the  name  of  his  adversary.  But  the  generosi^  of  giants  ia 
•eldom  commensurate  with  their  stature.  On  hearing  the  nama 
of  TiiamouT,  Burlong  determined  to  kill  him  while  it  was  appa- 
rently easy  to  do  so;  and  mahed  on  the  disarmed  knight,  re* 
poaching  nim  at  the  same  time  with  the  murder  of  MaRMu 
Then  said  Burlong,  "  Thon  it  waa 
That  slew  my  brother  Maradas; 

A  &ir  hap  thM  befell !" 
Sir  Triamenr  said  to  him,  tho, 
"So  have  I  done  thy  brethren  two, 
That  on  the  moantiun  did  dwell." 
This  avowal,  accompanied  by  a  most  hang^ty  defianoe,  exaspe- 
rated the  giant  so  far,  that,  summoning  his  wliole  strength  into  a 
iingle  blow,  he  attempted  to  annihilate  at  once  his  insuent  anta- 
Komst.    But  his  foot  slipped,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground.    ^ 
Triamour  instantly  seized  the  opportunity  to  resume  his  sword, 
and,  before  Burlong  could  reoover  nis  l^a,  cut  them  both  off  at 
tbe  knee.    Still  he  continued  to  fight  with  great  farj,  till  ^ 
I^wnonr  seizing  a  moment  when  the  ventail  of  his  helmet  waa 
sooidentally  raised,  eevered  his  head  from  his  shoulders. 
Now  is  Burlong  slun. 
And  Triamour,  with  main, 

Into  the  castle  went. 
To  that  lady  that  was  full  bright ; 
And  at  the  gate  she  met  the  kni^t^ 

And  in  her  ums  she  hitn  hent. 
She  stud,  "  Welcome,  Sir  Triamour  I 
Ye  hare  bought  my  lofe  full  dear : 

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■IB  XXIAHOtlll.  605 

My  beart  is  on  you  lent  t" 
Tho  Bftid  all  the  biirong  bold, 
"Of  him  we  will  our  landa  hold;" 
And  thereto  tbej  did  usent. 
Immediats  prepantiona  were  coade  foi  the  nnptiab.    Margaret 
was  ■ammoned  to  witneie  her  son'a  hapi^iHML  and  rerealed  to  him 
the  ittHy  of  hit  Urth,  to  the  great  vij  of  bir  Helen,  who  had 
alwayi  hiqied  to  find,  in  her  beloved  Tnamoar,  a  prince  in  dis- 
gaise.    Andas  alto  was  ioTited  to  the  ooRmation,  where  he  waa 
rewaided  fm  all  hie  past  mifierings  Iit  the  reoorery  of  hie  fiuthfdl 
Hargaret,  and  by  tbe  pleasure  of  cmbraoing  aa  bia  aon  the  hero  to 
whom  he  owed  we  preBerration  of  his  life  and  kingdom. 
And  thuB  we  leave  of  Triamoor, 
That  lived  long  in  great  hononr. 

With  the  fi^Elyne; 
I  pray  Gkid  give  their  eonla  good  reat ; 
And  all  that  have  heard  this  little  geet, 
High  Heaven  for  tt 


I  pray  you  all  to  aay  Amen  I 


THE   LYFE  OF   IPOMYDOK. 

Thii  rontiDce  ii  nontalnol  in  HS.  Ko.  2252  of  the  Harleun  library  in 
the  Britith  Moteom.i  It  i>  pcvftct,  md  oonnMi  of  two  fytta  or  cuitot, 
and  2342  tctmi.  Bishop  Fni?  hu  noOcei  an  rarlr  bnt  fmpcifeGt  printed 
eopy  n  once  eitint  in  the  library  of  Lincoln  calhcdraL 

Tbs  rich  and  happy  country  of  Apulia  was  never  ao  rich  and 
happy  as  during  uie  reign  of  tbe  good  King  Hermonee,  whOj  eaya 
the  romance,  "nated  wrong  and  loved  peaoe,"  &om  a  conviction 
that  he  might  render  his  neighbours  very  miaenble,  without  con- 
tributing mnoh  to  tiie  comfort  of  his  eubjecta.  His  qneen  waa 
vnnnviuiil  handsome,  and  in  consequeneeof  their  joint  prayers  to 
the  author  verily  believes,  had  tbe  eo^  fortune  to 


neav^  as 

bring  him 


a  and  heir,  whom  thej  christeneaby  the  n 
•       ■  -'      -■     uch  t  ■ 


ipomydon.    The  child  was  very  bewitifiil,  and  much  beloved  by 
the  king  and  queen,  and  by  tbe  ladies,  who  were  appointed  to 


named  Sir  Tholomew. 

Tholomew  a  olerke  he  toke, 
That  tao^t  the  child  upon  the  boke, 
■  Printed  in  Weber's  lf«trie»l  Rmuucet.  IBIO. 


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SM  X^SLT  XKQUUB  XZTBICU.  SOUAITOH. 

Both  to  aynge  vid  to  lede ; 

And  liter  he  taught  him  c^her  ded& 

Aftenrvd  to  Herre  in  hall^ 

Bothe  to  greto  Hid  ta  biwiU; 

Be&irB  the  iiaa  mete  to  kerv% 

Bye  and  lowe  f^re  bi  serve. 

Botlt  of  howTtdis  and  tmirkis  game 

ASxt  he  tanxht  hiio,  M  and  Basae, 

In  Ee,  in  feld,  and  eke  in  rjvere; 

In  woddo  to  chase  the  wild  dere. 

And  in  t£e  feld  to  lyde  a  stede, 

That  all  men  had  ^;  of  hia  deda. 
Iporoydon  had  received  bam  nature  an  athletic  bnt  gUMefhl 
Ggiue;  considerable  dodlitj,  which  was  increaBed  bj  his  respect 
for  the  good  Sir  Tholomcw ;  and  that  decisiMt  of  character,  whicb 
is  of  infinite  usa  to  men  b«m  to  oonunaDd.  He  there^ie  boob 
ezo^ed  in  all  manly  exerdscB,  insomoeh  that  none  could  esoeed 
him  "  in  casting  the  tree  ne  the  stone,"  and  had  the  good  sense  to 
Btud^  the  arts  of  courtesy  as  much  as  if  he  had  been  nnconscioos 
of  his  superior  strength  and  activity.  Eennonea  was  infinite!; 
proud  of  nis  acoomphshed  boo,  and  amioas  for  an  opportninity  of 
exhibiting  him  to  a  wider  circle  of  admireis  than  bis  own  ootut, 
on  common  occasionB,  was  able  to  famish ;  for  which  reason  he 
made  unusual  prepantaona  for  a  EBstivat  whiidi  he  asnally  held  «t 
Whitsuntide,  tmd  uvited  numerous  guests  from  tlie  ma«t  distant 
paarta  of  ItalT.  Nor  were  his  espeetations  dia^pointed.  Ipom;^ 
don  did  the  nonoun  of  the  entertaiuiMBt  i*  awn  a  nanver  aa  to 
Cttnct  nniveraal  admiiatkm ;  and  the  female  part  of  the  oampssy 
appeared  general^  to  lament,  as  onr  au&sr  assnrei  us,  ttiat  t^eir 
lo^  were  not  bo  yonng  or  so  handsame  as  the  heir  of  Apolia. 

When  the  important  tnisiness  of  dining  was  concluded,  the 
gossts  dispmed  m  saacch  of  their  rei^teotive  aamaenuot^ 

Soma  to  chambie  and  wHne  to  b«wer, 

And  soma  to  the  high,  town ; 

And  aoma  in  the  Wl  vtood, 

And  suke  what  hem.  tiunwit  aao4; 

Mml  Uiat  wei«  of  tlMt  otU 

Bnonered  itf  men.  of  other  countre 

Of  Caklxis  land  who  was  king) — 
And  as  Ipomvdaii  had  nothing  better  t»  do,  he  isined  thif  i«>B»r 
iitiv«EUtr.  ■"  —H— ' 

The  r^fy  made  to  thsquestion  was,  that  the  king  of  ralriBJn 
MM  dea^  and  liad  left  his  thiona  t»  an  oi^y  daoghter,  wdio  hm 
so  TOty  beantifiil  that  her  charms  mocked  all  poww  of  dveriatMn; 
ttat,  though  BO  exquisitely  ftii-  she  was  tlill  more  lemarkaUe  for 
the  extent  of  her  aaooBpliabimnta ;  aad  that  altfaoairh  asailed  by 
nnmennis  BuitaE8,mBnj  of  whom  were  ki^^  and  mae  e?en  em- 


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XOE  III>  Off   IXOKTDOK.  SOT 

VKtXM,  ilie  hwl  dsiwniuiad  naver  to  bestow  her  lumd.  b«t  i^iob  ft 
tnight  who  Bhonld  have  proved  bimseU  snperiar  in  prowOB  to  ail 
the  knights  in  ChriBteudoBL  Buch  ui  account  verj  oatunlly 
gaTe  rise  to  further  ianiru^  and  to  much  diaeoMion ;  the  per- 
uctioni  of  the  hotew  of  CUaJbria,  and  iur  reaohitions  on  the  sub- 
ject of  m&trimoQV,  beouM  the  univerml  topic  of  converaation; 
and  IpomjdoiL  nhi»  hftd  hit^wto  tboHght  little  about  women,  be- 
gan to  think  toat  Ufe  wevld  not  be  wortit  having  if  he  were  not 
IMiiiiiHil  to  SM  tfa*  w«i4eTfiil  prinMU  of  Calabna, 

ttr  Tbdomew  toM  paroeiTed  m  hie  p«pil  bq  air  of  penaLvenen 
tmi  dqjaotwn,  wI»ob  soipriMd  Hid  aLwmed  him,  and,  the  joung 
■■B  liATing  at  length  eonieaad  t*  him  the  c&nsa  of  his  anxiety, 
«Bde«*oared  to  ^apti  li  bj  olaerviog  Uwt  he  had  no  oanse  to 
dcmair;  tiwk  hifl  pcraoi^  merit  wm  certoinlj  not  inferior  to  that 
of  Idi  rival^  howenr  numoroBa  the;  might  be;  and  tlut  tb« 
^moeai  ooiud  not  aacil;  find  a  laon  adTantBoecns  match  than 
aa»  whid).  ihaald  oaita  the  kingdoma  of  Apulia  and  Calahii& 
IfMnnjdm  ■imawniil  thait  hie  objeet  at  pMseut  was  not  to  maxtj 
ft  wmau  whom  he  had  Bot  leen,  bnt  to  iee  and  Ktadj  her  chaiao- 
ter;  thftt  he  wished  to  do  this  in  his  own  way-,  and  that  iiiiIhh 
Im  w«n  gratified  «b  this  psuit  he  dkoald  Mstiredly  die.   The  geod- 
astond  tatec,  ahunaed  at  tliie  attemattTe,  flew  to  the  ki^^;  ia- 
pnmit«d  ta  mm  t&at  his  so^  whose  edttcatioawaaiiow  perfected 
«aa  dMrmft  of  viaiting  SMMgncoimtiiea;  and,  after  urging  the 
leuonabiaMH  of  the  n^oeat^  ofiered  to  accompany  the  prince  on 
bis  travels,  and  ta  hesome-  NspetiiuUe  Sot  hia  conduct.    Having 
thus  obtained  the  oooa^  of  Hsnooaea,  he  returned  with  the 
account  of  hie  mootm  to  his  piipit,  who  embraced  and  thanked 
him;   and,  after  receinring  ihe  patomal  benediction,  selected  a 
■mall  nwnbtr  et  atten^Ata  and  proeeeded  to  execute  bia  project. 
Be  had  no  aoaaex  begun  his  march  tiuin  he  issued  strict  orders 
ta  alt  his  retmoe  t»  oonoe^  his  name  and  rank,  and  even  ihe 
«»— til  from  whenoe  be  «ame^  at  the  same  time  that  be  did 
iHMf  thing  in  hia  Bo<i«r  to  exdte  a  curiosity  which  he  wh  deter- 
mined not  to  gratiQ'.    HimMlf  and  Sir  Tbolomew,  on  arriving  near 
Hm  «Mle  ot  the  primwiW)  aesumed  dresses  of  the  utmost  magoifi- 
eaaaVrtheirichM  were  Dewaiidrichlj  embroidaied, and  their  maa- 
tla  fljiMiiiwl  with  pradow  ^aaet.    ^ving  wproadud  the  gfie, 
'Eh*  pevter  ta  them  they  gan  call,.^ 
And  prayed  him,  "  Go  into  the  ball. 
And  say  thy  itAf  gent  and  free,     . 
rEhab  G«mefl  an  nwn  of  far  contr^, 
And,  if  it  please  her,  we  would  hec  pny 
That  w«  im^t  Mt  with  her  to-day.^ 
Tim  pcvter,  having  curried  this  ntMBRge,  presently  retomad 
with  m.  giBcioue  answei^  and  the  strangers  were  ushered  into  tba 
InltrVbEm  ths  praceM  had  jurt  takwW  seat  at  t^ilfl. 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


SOB  XAmLT  KROUBH  mtTUCAI.  KOKAKCXS. 

'  iMBjdon,  tdtvadag  to  the  Udj,  ftll  on  hia  kiiMi  b 
ana  idatod.the  ot^ect  of  hia  jaaraej : 

For  apecdi  I  betx  b 

ThAt  Toar  nartnre  and  jout  Mrvios 

Ii  bofden  of  to  gnat  «anprj«e'; 
,   I  pi»7  jon  thai  I  maj  dwdl  hue 

Some  of  TOOT  lerTioe  for  to  Ian." 
IIm  Uj,  daring  the  qwedt,  Bari^vd  the  hawWwie  aoppliaDt 
vtth  the  Eooat  scnttiniiiiig  attention.  To  fill  anj  office  m  her 
oovrt  waanot,  indead,  dugnceflal  even  to  pcracaia  of  the  moat  de- 
rated rank :  jtt  it  wm  ninunal  to  «e  a  petttiaaec  for  niii  offices 
arrayed  with  a  maKnifiooMe  wtiidi  hw  own  treaanrr  coold  not 
■upaaB:  ihe  tho^re  mqiaeted,  and  t' 


She, 

nowerar,  R«dilr  oooieiited  to  grant  his  leqiMat,  and  pnpoaed  to 
hint  the  (dn  of  eap^xaiar,  w&i^  be  gratoblljraeo^ted;  after 
wfiidi,  reBpectfiilly  fM^ing  all  the  gDert%  be  twA  hi*  ^ipoanted 
aeat  amonmt  tb^ 

When  dmner  was  ended,  and  the  table  (aft«  aajing  Race)  re- 
moved, the  newlj-appmnted  <Aoer  nee  and  prooooded  "to  tbe 
botterr,"  still  txnjii  in  hia  taperb  mantl^  irtudi  now  more  tban 
ever  attracted  the  ^ea  oi  the  ipeatatin  beawee  it  waa  not  naoal 
to  wear  the  mantle  m  perfivmiiv  an j  office  toaniperiiw: 
And  tnrj  man  aaM  to  otb«a-  thai^ 
"  Win  je  aee  the  prand  aqinei^ 
Shan  aerre  mr  Mr  (rf  Oe  wina 
In  bte  mant^  that  H  to  finer 
But  IpomTdon  had  no  twmer  leceiied  tbe  ei^  firam  the  boiier, 
than  l^  drawiiw  a  nlkm  lace  he  lat  bll  the  mantle,  and  denied 
him  to  aceept  that  trifling  iii  i  i«int ;  with  wbidi  tite  man  ma  into 
the  baU,  and,  Uling  qq  hn  kneee  before  tbe  piineea^  hambb 
prajed  her  to  assore  tbe  noUe  ttni^n- of  hia  gratitnde,  ibr  whkji 
he  oooM  not  find  any  ftMinatn 


u:t  of  ostentadooB  genovm^  mdnoed  in  Um  amembhr  a 
nrarmnr  «f  aoiprite  and  aannatioa,  to  wbidt  Ipomjwn 
7  indiSerant ;  bat  it  alee  gafaied  him  the  mm  nlimUe 


»  Terr 
•ndabip 
neea^a 

maider: 

u^pkd  profinon,  oontratted  with  tbe 


.     -  -,-_-„  _, — , Jaaon.  wbL 

pnneea^  and  mndt  in  bv  confidence,  and  £d  not  Cut  of  modaeiuff 
-  oonaiderable  «&ct  on  the  heart  of  the  ladr  hendC    Hiannes- 


uapkd  profinon,  oontratted  with  the  peiftct  Rmpfia^  of  bia 
*l^ortineot,  and  with  bis  homiti^  in  fadmrging  tbe  dnttM  of  hia 
eflMe;  the  obstinate  eileDee  of  Ua  atteodanta,  and  hia  own  ^t- 
paient  fmi  of  reraaliiw  his  imme  er  ivak  or  ooontrr,  piqaad  her 
(VMB^.  and  ocenpied  her  wbok  attenticm.  She  duh^  beviw 
the  mTiteir,  and  at  bt 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


THE   LITE  OP   XPOMTDOK.  509 

fdt  tbat  mudi  of  W  future  hwpinees  would  depend  on  her  find- 
ing that  hia  birtli  waa  equal  to  W  own. 

After  long  thought  und  deliberation,  she  devised  a  scheme 
which  could  not  &i  of  tbrowinf  some  light  on  the  subject  of 
ber  Milioitude.  Eia  grace  and  addiess,  ana  tho  fiiendahip  with 
whicb  he  had  iiupirea  hei  cousin  Jason,  were  strong  preeuoiptionB 
in  fitvont  of  hia  nobility ;  bnt  theee  were  ptill  equivocal :  if  he  was 
ftn  ezp^  hnntmum,  he  must  be  well-born:  she  therefore  ordered 
a  genend  hnnting  f«rtj,  and  determined  to  wBtch  the  conduot  of 
the  ttranga^  with  UDceasiDg  attention. 

Ipomjdon  had  brought  with  him  three  gie/hounds,  which  had 
been  oarefnllj  bred  and  trained  lij  Sir  Tholomew,  who  now  at- 
tended hia  pupil,  and  anisted  in  managing  them. 

Ipom^on  with  hia  houndee  tho 

Drew  down  both  buck  and  doe ; 

More  he  took  with  hounde«  thrae 

Than  alt  that  other  company. 

Their  aquyera  undid  her  deer 

Gaoh  man  in  his  own  manere. 

JpomTdon  a  deer  ;ede  unto. 

Full  cunningly  gan  he  it  undo ; 

80  &ir  that  venyson  he  gau  to  d^ht. 

That  both  him  beheld  »qnyer  and  knight. 

The  lad/  looked  out  of  her  pavyloon. 

And  saw  him  dight  the  veniaoun ; 

Tliereto  ahe  had  grete  dainte. 

And  M  had  all  that  did  him  aee. 

She  Raw  all  that  he  down  drew;' 

Of  banting  ahe  wist  he  conth  enow, 

And  thought  in  her  heart  than, 

That  he  was  come  of  gentil  man 
The  inference  appeared  ao  Witii^ite,  that  at  the  dinner  which 
mcceed^  the  chaae  ahe  refiieed  to  give  him  the  trouble  of  aerviug 
her,  and  ordered  him  to  ait  by  her  cousin  Jaaon,  for  the  purpoaa 
of  viewing  him  more  at  ber  ease,  and  without  exciting  auapicioo. 
IpOTn^on,  being  perfectly  aware  that  be  was  no  longer  quits 
indifierent  to  her, 

Anon  it  gave  him  in  this  thought, 

To  loci  again  let  would  he  nought. 

Nor  no  more  coward  thought  he  to  be 

Of  hia  looking,  than  wsa  she. 
But  this  alarmed  and  di^leased  her;  and  wiiihing  to  give  him 
an  indirect  lesson  of  caution,  ahe  afiected  to  have  detected  some 
looks  of  intelligence  between  her  connn  Jason  and  one  of  her 
damaele,  and  reproved  him  for  the  levity  of  his  condnot,  which, 
'  How  be  diiKcted  md  sepantad  the  different  jolata,  &c.,  tee  Soott'a 
Hotea  to  Sir  ^Mren,  ed.  ISSa,  p.  3Sft. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


fl0  KABLT  XMOUBH  MKraiCAX  SOXAVOZB. 

Ae  toU  Urn,  mi^  tend  to  eaSaager  the  &ir  rqmUtua  rf  tka 
JMU^  ladj.     Ipoin;don  took  the  hmt,  bat  felt  it  ■•  an  -olftmae: 

Dawn  lie  looked,  md  tluHWit  erut  ainme 

Hut  JaaoD  bare  for  him  t£a  t^me. 

Stall  he  tat,  utd  wid  no  mare; 

He  thou^tt  to  dwell  no  longer  there. 


word  he  went  awaj,"  but  (till  more  *Bgrj  with  hoaelf  for  nttering 
"^ ' '         '    vu  mu<^  Mom  to  be  pitiaa.    K    "        ' '      '  " 
Thftt  (he  ahonld  sadi  m 


A  her  for  the  hoimiDr  w 
aeoepdng  hia  eerrioea,  and  isqaested  ha  |MmuMi<M  _ 

office,  and  to  letum  into  hu  owb  auuiUry.  He  titan  to^  lekve  irf 
tliB  whole  cotut,  all  of  whom  exfreBaed  their  regret  at  hia  de- 
peztnre,  and  set  off  with  hie  aMendanta,  notwithstaBdiiig  Am 
afiectionate  remonatnnoeB  at  im  friend  Jasrai,  who,  aftei  '**™^ 
tryiiu  to  detain  him  by  rapreaouting  the  regret  sad  misery  whicu 
his  abeenoe  would  oocaaitHi  to  the  pnooMB,  no  Iom  vainly  entreated 
to  have  the  pleanue  of  aooanBaaying  him  in  hit  travels.  Ipo- 
mydoa,  m  we  hare  ae^i,  waa  inaenUe  in  all  faia  leaolutiona.  On 
the  present  occamon,  he  probaUj  giatified  hia  pnde  at  the  cipenee 
of  hishappineBB;  bat  hi* mistrvM, angry  wiA aim  because  "for  a 
t  awav."  but  atill  more  anoij  with  hoaelf  for  ntteiir 
Oie  blamed  her  folly, 
a  euoithi  Boeii  moa        ' 

Forait 

That  DO  man  ne  wiat  what  he  wm; 

But  yet  die  nude  oft,  "Alaa!" 
Ipomydon,  however,  had  taken  meaauica  to  be  informed  of  all 
fb»t  passed  at  the  ooort  of  CUabria,  and  had  left «  trusty  attend- 
ant, with  orders  to  bring  him  immediaie  intcJligenDe  of  any  event 
in  which  the  hapinnees  of  the  priooeis  n^gfat  he  nuiterially  inte- 
leated.  He  wa«  therefae  ao&Mntly  taruqtdl  to  take  an  active 
■hare  in  all  the  festiritie*  wbi^  ina  mtber  pnpaied  in  bonoor  (rf 
Ida nrtom,  and  partioiilarly  in  a  nagnificoit  loiiiiisiiiiiiii,  where 
lie  gained  everr  priie,  and  waa  trinnaphantly  admitted  into  tht 
vda  of  kni^ithood. 

In  dw  mean  time,  the  prinoeaa  of  Calabria,  eiery  d^  1^ 
plaaand  with  herMl^  became  every  day  leee  ai^cilaya  to  ^kMe  hv 
subjects.  Her  oouncU,  having  taken  the  matter  into  coneideratiaiy 
waited  on  her  in  a  body,  and  reqnested  that  ahe  would  condeaoend 
to  take  to  herself  a  hueband,  and  gratify  her  loyal  eubjocts  by 
becoming  the  mother  of  a  long  hoe  of  pcincea.  In  reply,  bIk 
thanked  them  for  their  ezoellent  advice,  annaiinaed  to  tiicm  her 
mtention  of  lemainii^  in  a  state  of  oeliiMMiy.  The  eonnoQ  daBbe- 
^m1  npoo  tiiis  answer,  and  were  of  oinmon  tlMt  it  waa  li^  smI 
mndoua;  tar  vhieh  reaaon,  tmoonsii^  all  fluUiM  diaciiH^ 
i^Ut  her,  th^  carried  their  oomplamts  to  a  neigUMnring  jaiam, 
who  waa  her  uncle,  and  whoee  name  mm  Mdeager  This  piiMK, 
not  being  in  lov^  waa  much  more  BoceKiUa  to  the  exodtat 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


Tm  Lin  or  ipohtdov.  fill 

reasoning  of  the  Calkbriaii  minister! ;  and,  luving  promised  to 
obtain  the  consent  of  his  niece  to  thmi  reqoeflt,  repKirod  to  her 
court ;  and,  trusting  more  to  the  anthority  irf  an  ancle  than  to  the 
norettj  of  his  arsumenta,  soon  overpowered  faer  owodtion.  She 
only  fltipnlat«d  that  the  pomeasion  of  her  hand  ana  of  the  crown 
of  Calabria,  instead  of  being  bestowed  by  her  crwn  caprice,  or  by 
the  wisdom  of  her  council,  should  be  prodaimed  as  the  reward  of 
valour ;  that  a  tournament  ^ould  be  annonnoed  for  the  purpose ; 
that  a  delay  of  six  months  should  be  allowed  for  the  purpose  of 
apprising  in  who  mi^t  be  disposed  to  enter  tiie  Hsts  on  Ench  an 
ooeaaion ;  and  that  l£e  victor  knight,  whatever  mi^t  be  his  rank, 
■hoold  receive  the  crown  without  delay  or  oppoatioD.  To  these 
tenuB  Meleaeer  made  no  objection,  and  nMaames  were  taken  to 
pre  all  poadble  publicity  to  the  eanvention. 

The  agent  of  Ipomydon  justly  condnded  that  thia  event  wm  of 
goffident  importanoe  to  justiiy  his  return  to  bis  master,  and 
hastened  with  all  poaaible  speed  to  Apulia  with  the  intdligeiiee. 
33ie  prinpe  immei&itely  ordned  Sir  19uJota«w  io  pnpan  to  tMr 
journey  into  Calabria ;  after  which 

He  porveyd  btm  three  noble  «teed^ 

And  also  three  noble  weeds: 

Thkt  one  was  white  as  any  mift ; 

The  trappure  of  bi-m  was  white  b&. 

That  atbcr  was  red,  both  stiff  and  atoor; 

The  tTappnre  was  of  the  same  ndouc 

Black  then  was  that  other  steed ; 

The  same  ooloor  was  hia  weed. 

Three  gre^ounds  with  him  he  lad. 

The  b^  that  his  &ther  had ; 

Bed,  and  white,  and  black  they  were. 

When  he  was  <U£ht  in  tiiis  msmen, 

'With  him  he  took  a  ftir  may, 

And  went  tbrth  on  his  ioumey ; 

Into  Beseny'  the  way  thej  nome. 
He  then  directed  Sir  Tholomew  to  enter  the  city  hj  nigitt ;  to 
asnoBol  the  armour,  the  hones,  and  the  hounds,  frmn  the  view  vf 
sHpenoas  whatever;  and  strictly  to  enfbroe  on  all  his  attenAvta 
the  lanu  silence  which  Ihey  had  observed  dormg  Ibeir  faoHr 
joomey:  att^  whieh,  taking  with  him  onh' ^  maiden ;  he  tOTBed 
faui  mto  the  forest  where  he  had  beard  the  cry  of  honnda,  md, 
hsrving  aocotted  a  knight,  was  informed  \j  him  tlwt  U  ms 
Hciewer,  the  king  of  the  conntry,  who  was  fbea  hunting, 
^na^oa  rode  n^  to  him,  and,  after  the  usual  nhitetiou 
EeWMted  servioe  m  his  court ;  which  having  been  consented  to 
In  Hisleager,  he  preoeeded  ht  modify  his  raqaest  by  the  foUowisg 


is  difficult  to  gnen  vhat  country  Kdj^ning  to  Naples  can  beintnded 
}fj  dda  word,  which  pnmlly  means  Saxooy 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


A12  SASLT  ENGLISH  HETBIOAL  SOHUTCBS. 

Ipomydon  skid,  "  t  ahall  joa  toll, 

At  thu  covenftDt  irould  I  dwell. 

Full  fein  I  would  be  re»dj  bonn, 

To  lead  joxa  queen,  both  up  and  down. 

Fro  her  ohamber  to  her  baJj, 

And  tny  leman  I  would  her  call. 

Mj  m&iden,  that  ia  of  honour, 

SIulU  dwell  iu  tha  queenys  bower. 

At  every  turn  that  I  her  lead, 

A  kiss  of  the  queen  shall  be  mj  meed ; 

I  will  no  more  for  laj  service. 
Meleager  Burvejed  him  with  Bome  gurpriaei  bntjostly  conda- 
ding,  &om  this  strange  proposal  and  Irom  the  epleodour  of  hia 
appearance,  that  the  stranger  knight  was  a  man  of  great  opulenoe, 
who  wished  to  reside  at  lua  court  for  some  mysterious  reason,  and 
not  with  any  view  to  seduce  the  queen,  replied  that  he  accepted 
the  bargain;  and,  the  chase  being  concluded,  conducted  the  new 
chamberlain  to  her  roiyesty,  who  saw  nothing  in  the  person  of 
Ipomydon  which  oould  lead  her  to  refuse  the  whimsical  salary 
annexed  to  his  service.  Thus  was  he  naturally  plnoed  on  a  foot- 
ing of  bmiliarity  with  the  royal  couple,  which  he  well  knew  how 
to  improve;  and  bis  wealth  and  generosity  soon  secured  the 
affection  of  their  courtiers,  so  that  he  shortly  became  the  imivereal 
&vourite. 

But  the  important  tournament  now  approached.  Heleager  him- 
self was  a  knight  of  no  common  prowess ;  and  he  had  two  compa- 
nions, Sir  Campanys  and  Sir  Camys,  who  had  acquired  a  brilliant 
reputation  by  their  feats  of  arms.  The  greatness  of  the  priie  for 
which  numberless  warriors  wore  about  to  oontend,  the  charms  of 
the  heiress  of  Calabria,  the  extent  and  population  of  her  domi- 
nions, and  the  mightr  preparations  excitea  in  every  part  of  Italy, 
were  the  constant  uieme  of  their  conversation,  while  Ipomydon 
alone  seemed  to  consider  the  universal  bustle  with  apathy  or  with 
contempt.  Meleager,  lost  in  astoniahment  at  bis  Dehaviour,  st 
length  lormallj  proposed  to  him  that  he  should  prepare  to  enter 
the  lists,  at  Uie  same  time  adding,  with  a  Bmile,  that  a  young 
knight  of  his  apparent  strength  and  activity  was  perhape  justified 
in  hoping  to  b^J  away  the  priie  with  little  effort.  But  Ipomydon 
humbly  answered,  that  "he  had  no  wish  but  to  serve  the  queen 
with  proper  decorum  and  assiduity ;  and  that  the  boisbenKU 
amusements  of  a  tooraament,  to  which  he  was  not  accustomed, 
did  not  seem  to  bim  worth  pursuing,  to  the  neglect  of  more 
pleaong  and  important  duties.  Meleager  turned  from  him  with 
a  mixture  of  pity  and  contempt,  and  kmentod,  as  did  his  two 
hardy  oompamontL  that  the  many  acoomplishmsnts  of  the  amiaUa 
Ipomydon  shoold  be  tamiahed  hj  the  degiading  atain  of 
oowardioe. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


TUB  LIFE   OP   IPOVTDOIT.  '513 

On  the  erening  that  preceded  the  ceremony  IpofajAon  re- 
paired to  the  queen  and  begged  a  boon.  "It  is  a  long  tuna,"  Mid 
he,  "since  m/noundg  have  been  fleshed;  and  I  should  be  glad  to 
run  them  at  some  deer  to-morrow,  while  mv  lord  is  oconpied  at 
the  tonmament.  Your  majeatj  will,  1  hope,  hold  me  excuicd, 
shonld  mj  sport  detain  me  in  the  field  bejond  the  usual  hour  of 
dinner."  The  queen  having  readily  assented,  he  sent  for  Sir 
Thulomew,  and  directed  him  to  bring  to  the  castle,  before  daj- 
break,  the  white  steed,  the  white  greyhound,  and  the  white 
armour.  He  then  obtained  from  the  porter  the  k^  of  the  oastle, 
rose  before  dawn,  sounded  his  horn  under  the  windows,  laced  on 
his  armour,  vaulted  into  the  saddle^  and,  after  requesting  Sir 
Tholomew  to  hunt  his  greyhound  dunng  his  absence,  and  to  con- 
vey tho  game  which  he  should  collect  to  an  appointed  spot  in  the 
forest,  set  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  rode  to  a  hermitage  on  the  edge 
of  a  wood,  from  whence  he  could  diaoem  all  that  pacsed  in  tba 
lists. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  loud  blasts  of  hu  horn  had  awakened  all 
the  maidens  in  tho  castle,  so  that,  when  called  to  attend  the  queen, 
they  thought  it  necessary  to  compliment  her  majesty  on  the  mili- 
taiT  ardour  which  had  so  sudden);  iuflamed  her  handsome  leman; 
adding,  that  they  hoped  soon  to  hiul  his  return  as  victor  from  the 
tonmanient,  and  that  they  rancerely  forgave  his  having  awaken«d 
them  BO  earl;  by  a  very  noisy  prelude  to  his  great  aohievcmente. 
The  queen  answered  drily,  "that  though  unfit  for  tournaments, 
her  lemau  was  perhaps  as  rationally  employed ;"  and  the  maiden^ 
abashed  at  finding  their  congratulatious  so  unwelcome,  held  their 
peace,  but  seemed  to  lament,  as  Heleager  had  done,  that  the  hand- 
some knight  was  a  coward. 

The  handsome  knight,  however,  was  very  bnrily  emph^ed. 
Having  readied  the  hermitage. 

He  looked  forth  and  beheld ; 
.  Many  a  knight  he  saw  in  field; 

&ch  to  other  fast  gau  ride. 

With  neat  spears  on  either  ude. 

He  took  his  spear,  anon  right, 

Andlepte  on  tiis  steed  sought; 

In  he  came  among  hem  alle, 

Throu|1i  the  clouds  as  he  had  falle. 
The  rapidity  of  his  enarge  was  irresistine ;  knight  after  knight 
was  unhorsed  by  him;  and  the  lad;,  who  surveyed  the  combat 
fhim  her  bower,  and  had  witnessed  man;  alternations  of  snccesi 
and  defeat  in  the  motions  of  the  opposite  squadrona,  beheld  wiUi 
astonishment  this  white  figure,  which  seemed  to  pass  throogh  the 
ranks  like  a  spectre,  unchecked  in  ita  career,  and  bearing  down 
without  ^ort  all  opposition.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  juste^  ever; 
voice  produmed  that  the  white  kni^t  wai  the  victor;  uid 
3l 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


614  ZAa],T  nrousH  wtbzcjll  kouakces. 

jMoa,  vim,  M  tha  qnMb'i  &Tonrite  Bqnire^  hkd  been  employed 
thwuighcwt  the  dtj  in  cuiying  epemn  to  the  eombataata,  nvir 
onvtKMMlj  rancMed  faiio.  In  her  ooBUBaud,  to  icpoae  bnosdf  in 
tia  cMtl^  irtucb  wtnild  ^bdcM  bemnoe,  wiOin  thne  dkya,  the 
VMwd  of  his  piOTTCH.  IpofDjdoD,  diseovaing  liiiiiiir  to  hk  cU 
aemBnakM,  t«^ied^  "CoauMiHl  me  to  inj  Iftdr;  ekj  that  ttina 
mmak  I  baTadimeMrber,  bat  thkt,  compiled  brptdnM  neoenitj 
I  wmut  now  «w»y  t«  mj  own  oountry.''  At  tbwe  words  he  eet 
^Mn  to  hie  h«ne  and  dinppeared.  Jaeon,  bmA  grieved  at  tiie 
loH  of  hia  friend,  oimveTed  the  message  to  the  ladj,  who  Bwooned 
with  Taxation,  tore  her  hair,  'Intterty  reproached  herself  for  ha 
fcU]',  and  would  bare  put  an  eod  to  her  life,  but  that  Ae  still 
mtertaiiwd  «  aevet  hope  that  the  "rtranye  equyere,"  whAtever 
Mnght  be  hii  aroeationa,  would  again  make  hie  appearance  on  the 
■oooeediiig  day. 

iMmrdon  now  haatened  to  the  phueat  which  he  had  appointed 
SirTholomew  to  meet  him,  deliveted  to  liitn  his  horse  and  armour, 
receiTCd  from  bin  in  Tstum  a  pkntiliil  supplj  of  Tenison,  which 
the  white  grejihound  had  imUed  down  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
and  repaired  with  it  to  tne  caaUe  of  Mdeager.  The  game  waa 
dia[da^d  with  mnc^  oatoitBtian,  and  after  eupping  mc«t  vora- 
donaly,  he  exclaimed,  with  an  air  of  triuraph,  that  he  had  sped 
Bmdi  better  at  his  cbaoe  than  the  king  bis  msEter  at  the  toonta- 
nwnt.  So^  ttter  this  a  meeMneer,  dispatched  by  Meleager, 
tvooght  an  account  of  the  woitderfiu  feats  oi  arms  achieved  by  the 
white  kniffht ;  to  whi<^  Tpomydon  replied  by  an  account  of  the 
eiploita  of  hia  white  greyhound,  wh(»D  he  pronounced  to  be  aitpe- 
rior  in  atPHigth  and  awiftness  to  any  in  the  poeaesBion  of  hii 
majesty,  and  requested  that  be  might  have  leave  to  send  some 
ohraoe  piecM  of  Temaon  ai  a  proof  of  his  veracity.  The  queen, 
and  all  her  court  were  marvellously  pleated  with  this  saDy, 
and  they  almost  begim  to  doubt  whether  the  If  night's  want  of 
courage  was  not  compensated  hy  his  exoellent  talent  for  buffoonery. 

The  next  day  exhibited  a  repetition  of  nearly  the  same  scene, 
excepting  tlis.t  Ipomydon  was  mounted  on  a  bay  horse,  and  clad  in 
red  armour.  Havingrow^fniaodhis  friend  Jason,  who  had  on  that 
morning  been  knighted,  and  took  his  share  in  the  medley,  he  ena- 
bled him  to  ^m  hii  ipurt  with  great  distinction ;  leading  the 
young  knight  to  lepeE  the  attacks  of  common  adversaries,  but 
taking  to  himself  all  tnoso  who  fr^im  their  superior  strength  and 
skill  might  have  stopped  his  career  of  glory.  The  address  with 
which  he  performed  this  difficult  task  was  so  conspicuous,  that  the 
red  knight  was  thought  to  have  eclipsed  the  glory  of  the  white. 
A^aJnhe  was  solicited  by  Jaeon  to  retire  to  the  OWtle:  "For," 
said  his  friend, 

"I  wote  thou  shall  be  lord  here. 
For  I  know  nana  that  is  thy  peer. 


uL,  Google 


IBE  LlrS  01   IPOtlSDOV- 


BallUii 


"Stj,  Juoo,  my  true  fere, 
Ibou  ahalt  see  that  I  am  here, 
But  n«et  well  107  Isdy  dear, 
Foi  £er  to-day  have  I  been  here. 
The  which,  I  uy,  wlthontea  &il, 
Win  HM  torn  to  gre*t  travayl; 
And  maaj  a  horse  shall  I  ride  to  drde, 
Ere  I  aome  there  that  ma  must  need! 
For  aU  my  land  I  lose  for  aye, 
But  I  be  there  by  a  certain  day!" 
ThiiBpeech  waifbllowed,BS0D  the  day  before,  by  tender  remotl' 
riraacea  on  the  put  of  Jason,  by  obatinacy  on  the  part  of  Ipomy- 
dot),  and  bj  the  bitter  UmenUtious  of  his  miatreai.    The  knight 
aiao  npeated  with  equal  sacoeM  his  old  joke,  uying  to  MeLeager'a 
mesBenger, 

"Commend  me  to  mj  lord  ao  daa. 
And  Bay  that  Oager,  my  red  greyhound, 
Much  deer  bath  Drought  this  day  to  ground; 
I  had  more  joy  at  hia  pmiiing 
Than  to  Btaod  aud  stare  and  see  the  justing ! " 
The  third  day,  which  was  to  decide  the  late  of  the  princess  of 
Calabria,  called  forth,  of  oourse,  all  the  (oi^btie«t  combatants. 
Ipomydon,  still  appearing  to  amuse  himself  with  the  chase,  again 
repaired  to  the  hortutage,  trom  which  he  iBsued  on  a  black  steed, 
and  olad  in  black  amwux.    His  first  adversary  ww  a  champion  of 
great  atreogth  dresaed  in  red  armour,  who  wu  mistaken  by  the 
Itrineesi,  and  by  all  the  spectators,  for  the  victor  of  the  preoed- 
tng  iaif,  but  Jpomrdon  instantly  brought  him  to  the  grouud,  and, 
wmof  hii  horee,  ted  it  off  in  trium^  to  the  extremity  of  the 
Uats.    He  next  amulted  Sir  Camys,  and  traa  equally  successful- 
Sir  Campauva  was  a  more  formidable  adversary,  and  at  their  Erst 
■hock  both  knights  shattered  their  spears  without  effect ;  but  the 
aewuid  mve  the  victory  to  Ipomydon.    Heleager,  iueeosed  at  the 
defeat  of  his  two  oompanioiiB,  purred  forward  to  revenge  them, 
anif   attacking   the   unknown    knight  £roBi  behind,    wounded 
him  in  the  left  arm ;  upon  which  turning  round  he  courteously 
said, 

"Aa  thou  art  kind,  gentil  and  free, 
Abide  and  just  a  course  with  me, 
Aud  I  forgive  tiiu  vilainye." 
The  king  sud,  "Thereto  grant  I."* 
The  result  was,  that  hit  mt\jesty's  horse  was  preaently  led  off  to 
ICMp  ootupany  with  Ihoie  of  the  red  knight,  of  Camy^  aud  of 
'  Death.  *  I  we  e  thentoi 

2lS 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


51S  EAXLT  iirauBH  kstbical  BoicuroH. 

OunpwiTB;  and,  there  being  no  more  competiton  oapeble  of  eoO' 
teetiDg  iim  pHie,  it  wu  fiukllj  adjudged  to  the  black  knif^t. 

Jason,  to  whom  he  again  Tevealea  hinieel^  iraa  mrae  diM^tpointed 
than  eTw  at  beiiig  maUe  to  induce  him  to  take  poneasion  of  a 
kingdom  which  lu  had  guned,  and  to  ooneole  a  beaat;  who  adwed 
him,  and  whom  hiaabaenoe  would  rednce  to  deepair;  butbienmu^ 
•trancee  wore  ttiU  in  rain;  Ipomydon  dimpp^red,  and  returned 
aa  before,  to  the  caatle  of  Meleaffer  with  the  pre;  aoqnired  hf 
Ui  Mack  greyhound.     For  the  ^ird  time,  alM>,  he  repeated  his 
iiynnot  ions  to  the  messenger  to  oonvej  his  respects  to  the  king, 
"And  ta;.  mv  black  greyhound  Gilmjn 
To-day  batb  borne  him  well  and  fms ; 
For  he  hath  take  many  a  beast, 
The  greatest  that  was  in  the  f<»eat." 
But  whilst  he  was  earring  the  venison,  the  wound  in  his  arm 
Buddonlj  opened,  and  Ued  to  plentifull;  as  to  alarm  the  Ucadtr- 
ness  of  the  queen,  to  whnn  he  thus  Td^«d  the  suppoaed  cwise  of 
his  hurt: 

"FoTWOth,  madam,  I  shall  you  say; 
I  let  run  at  a  deer  to  day. 


At  that  time  I  took  this  harm : 

A  stub'  smote  me  throng  the  arm, 

And  that  was.  for  I  should  say, 

The  gree'  of  the  fidd  I  had  to-day. 

60  tMy  laughed  at  him  that  night, 

That  some  might  not  st  upright. 
He  qneen  now  requested  that  he  would  aocompany  her  on  t&* 
following  day  to  the  ceremony  of  daUmffinf  the  pria;  but  ha 
answered,  that  having  absented  himself  frt»i  toe  lists,  he  did  not 
wish  to  attend  the  subsequent  ohallenge ;  and  that,  beeidea.  h» 
had  just  leeeived  some  advices  from  home  which  compelled  him, 
after  thankinz  her  majesty  for  all  her  kindness,  to  solicit  bar 
""--  *»  depart.     This  separation  from  hei Uman  * 


permisuan  to  depart.  Tlis  separation  fitim  her  femon  was  vcvj 
painful  to  the  queen,  who  roared  no  puns  to  indaoe  him  to  tUj ; 
but  he  was  aa  umaL  inflexiDte,  and.  taking  with  him  the  maidra, 
whom  he  had  brought,  repaired  to  tus  inn  in  the  dty,  aent  for  hia 
host,  and  gave  him  his  final  directions  abouthis  horses.  "  I  am," 
said  h^  "  the  person  who  appeared  at  the  late  tournament  in  the 
BuooeBmve  characters  of  the  white,  the  red,  and  the  black  knight, 
and  who  won,  on  the  last  day,  the  fooT  steeds  which  you  see  bente 
you.  Hy  wish  Is,  that  you  go  to  the  challenging,  that  jon  plao^ 
on  this  mj  white  h<»sa  a  powm  clad  in  my  white  armout,  and 
that  you  puUidy  p resent  both  horse  and  armoar  to  Euig  MdeMNO', 
telling  him  that  his  own  knight,  the  queen's  Iranan,  homUj  enaa 
>  Aa  cU  root  or  ttomp.  ■IVpriie, 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


t 


THE  LIFK  OF   IFOKTDOK.  5l7 

Iiiin  this  present,  and  vishea  that  everj  hair  of  the  horse  vera  of 
old  or  silver,  that  it  might  be  more  worth;  of  his  acoeptaaoe. 
Ij  bay  horse  and  red  armour  you  will  present  to  the  queen  his 
mEe,  niy  aoble  mistress,  with  a  similar  message.  The  blaclc  horse, 
with  the  appropriate  armour,  I  send  to  Sir  Campanys  the  bravest 
of  my  oompetitoTB  in  the  tournament.  The  king's  own  horse  you 
will  present  to  the  heiress  of  Calabria,  and  that  of  Sir  Campnnys 
to  hor  cousin  Jason.  I  beg  you  to  accept  for  yourself  the  horse  of 
the  other  red  knight,  which  you  will  ride  to  the  ceremony." 
After  repeating  several  times  the  precise  words  in  which  he 
wished  tne  several  messages  to  be  delivered,  he  bestowod  a  mag- 
nificent reward  on  his  host,  and  departed. 

All  the  noble  persons  to  whom  these  presents  were  directed, 
accepted  them  with  gratitude,  and  expressed  their  admiration  foe 
the  eccentric  bnt  truly  heroic  character,  who  seemed  equally  eager 
to  court  danger  and  to  escape  from  that  renown  which  is  Uia 
nsoal  incentive  to  enterprise.  But  there  was  one  of  his  antag- 
onists to  whom  he  had  sent  no  present,  and  whose  horse  he  had 
leserved  for  bis  own  use ;  thin  was  Sir  Camys;  and  he  could  not 
have  easily  found  a  knight  of  more  arrogance,  or  more  disposed 
to  be  affironted,  than  the  person  whom  he  distinguished  by  this 
mtntiMng  omission,  Bnt  not  wishing  to  avow  t£e  real  cauM  of 
hb  indignation,  Sir  Gamys  pretended  to  be  angry  with  the  knight 


for  departing  against  the  wishes  of  the  queen,  and  swore  to  bring 
him  back  eitner  by  persuasion  or  by  force. 

Ipomydon  had  been  so  thoroughly  fetigued  by  the  exertions  of 
the  last  three  days,  that  he  was  unable  to  travel  with  much  ex- 
pedition ;  and  he  had  advanced  bnt  a  little  way  into  the  forest, 
wh«n,  stopping  his  attendants,  and  declaring  that  he  must  refresh 
himself  I7  a  uiort  repose,  he  dismounted,  laid  his  head  on  his 
muden's  lap  and  almost  instantly  fell  asleep.  But  he  had  not 
rested  above  a  quarter  of  an  hoar,  when  the  maiden  was  alarmed 
by  the  appearance  of  a  knight  armed  at  all  points,  who  ap- 
proaohed  them  at  full  speed,  and  appeared  determined  to  pre- 
vent their  further  progress.  She  hastily  wakened  her  lord,  ana  he 
was  doing  his  beet  to  shake  off  his  slumber,  when  Sir  Oamys 
titns  addresBod  him : 

"Traitonrl  thou  diddest  dishonour, 

When  thou  brakest  the  queenys  bower, 

And  toke  her  maiden  and  my  stede ! 

Again  to  court  I  will  thee  lead. 

Anse,  TnutouT  I  I  bid  thee  ; 

To  court  thou  shalt  again  with  me." 

Ipomydon  answered  this  brutal  speech  in  terms  of  the  greatest 

oourteay :  but  gave  Sir  Camys  to  understand  that  he  was  naturally 

disinoliiied  to  do  anything  on  compulsion;  that  he  oould  n^ 

ntum  to  court  becaose  hit  journey  uj  in  an  opposite  dirwtion; 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


S18  XABLT   XyOMBfi  KETRICAL   BOViLKCES. 


that,  If  he  were  Um  sleepy  be  dionM  be  in  a  great  hnrrr;  ncl 
tiiat  it  wdotd  be  barbarouB  to  can7  mi  altercation  anj  ftotiicT 
wtth  a  man  who  had  to  littte  leisure  to  diapnte  the  point  nie 
moderation  of  the  drowsy  knight  had,  however  no  effect  tm  hia 
angry  antagoniBt.  He  therefore  rubbed  hb  eje«,  laid  bold  of  hia 
■pear,  mounted  hit  horse,  took  his  distance,  cfauged  SJi  Camyv  at 
full  tpoed,  and  threw  him  over  the  cropper  of  his  horse  with  snch 
violence  that  hii  arm  waa  broken  in  nie  fall.  He  then  ordered 
bis  attendants  to  seize  his  steed ;  to  mount  him  on  die  wont 
sampler  home  in  their  troop,  with  his  &ce  to  the  animal's  tail, 
and  hia  hands  tied  behind  him ;  and  to  e«oort  him  back  to  Ibe 
oourL  which  was  at  no  great  distance,  where  his  reception  mlgfat 
possibly  cnre  him  of  his  arrogance.  Having  given  these  smnnMrr 
orders,  our  knight  again  went  to  sleep,  and  net  with  no  SMDld 
interruption. 

The  nnfbrtun&te  Sir  Camyi,  bursttng  with  vezMion,  writJdi^ 
with  pain  from  his  broken  arm,  and  not  %  tittle  annoyed  by  Use 
TCtrogmde  mode  of  traTelling  which  he  now  tried  for  the  flist 
time,  paned  thTongh  the  shonting  mattitodes  niio  fi&ed  tbo 
ttreets  of  the  city  to  the  castle-gat^  wtien  he  was  Immediati^ 
admitted  hj  tlie  porter,  and  ^en  condneted  by  Sir  Jiaon,  wbo 
held  the  horse's  bridle,  Qiron^  1^  great  haO,  whore  the  vbdk 
cmirt  wag  assemUed,  to  Heleager,  who  with  grttt  gnri^  n- 
~iested  him  to  retate  aD  the  oinonntanoet  of  hit  adrentan. 
humbled  knight,  compelled  to  obey  the  orden  ofhUsove- 
I,  and  to  become  the  historiaa  of  his  own  di^noe,  ooold  now 
no  refuge  tor  vanity  but  in  exaggenrtii^  the  invindbb  iwoe 
of  hit  antagonist — 

«  Though  an  the  fcn^htea  in  ^  hall 

Come  to  hdm,  both  great  and  snutl^ 

He  wotdd  of  them  give  no  thinr. 

But  if  it  weieof  yon,  Sir  Ung!" 

'Rien  titej  tongfae  all  in  same,' 

And  at  his  faann  had  good  game. 

There  was  none  in  that  place 

Bnt  they  were  gtad  of  that  case. 

Thus  Camys  hath  hia  service  qnit, 

And  of  Ipomydon  here  is  a  Qrtte. 
Cureoll. 
Ipomydov 

bis  people  H _ ,  

to  him  the  death  of  his  good  bther  Kii^  Hemonee.  He  thet«- 
fbre  hastened  his  march ;  and,  having  made  a  rapd  piajpw 
tiiron^  his  dorotnions  to  receive  the  oaths  of  te^tj  Iram  Mb 
•nlgeeti,  evinoed  hia  filial  piety  by  ordsr^g  a  magnificent  flnrenl 
'  LaaglMd  all  MiattcT 


find  no 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


THE   L17X  OF   JTOXTDOS.  81B 

for  his  btfaer  ossng  anmbarieH  iniWM  to  be  gang  in  &I1  tlie 
dmrohes,  and  diatribatiiiK  alnw  to  the  poor  in  eoch  abuadanoe,  as 
to  prove  that  he  inheritea  the  rirttna  together  irith  the  power  of 
Ub  excellent  predecessor. 

The  next  obiect  of  his  attention  iraa  the  qneen  his  mother,  who 
found,  in  the  end  and  duti^  demeanour  of  hei  son,  the  beat 
oompeiisation  that  ooold  be  a^rded  to  her  for  the  loss  of  an 
affeotionate  hnsband,  and  repaid  him  "by  the  most  unbounded 
confidence.  Here  it  mav  be  proper  to  observe  that,  during  the 
tnrbnlent  ages  in  whicn  this  history  is  placed,  the  persons  of 
Toang  and  beontiful  females  were  often  ezpmed  to  muiifold 
hazards,  bo  that  the  reader  most  not  be  sctuoaalized  hj  the  dis- 
oorer;,  that  the  tender  mother  of  Ipomydon  had  afforded  an  ts.- 
taa^  of  such  casualties. 

it  befell  upon  a  day 

The  q^neen  to  her  son  gan  say. 

In  pnvity,  and  in  oounsail, 
*  Thou  hast  a  brother,  withoaten  Cul, 

Privily  gotten  me  upoi^ 

Ere  I  ms  wedded  to  any  mon. 

But  hastily  he  was  done  fro  me, 

I  ne  wot  if  he  sJiTe  be, 

Bat  he  me  sent,  this  endar'  year, 

A  rich  ring  of  gold  full  clear; 

An  ever  he  any  brother  had. 

That  I  should  give  it  him,  he  bnde; 

That  wliere  he  oome,  txatrag  high  or  low. 

By  that  ring  he  riiould  him  know. 


He  is  thy  broUieT,  withoot  letina !" 

Ipomydon  aooepbed  the  ring,  and  prondaed  to  sptre  no  pidns  in 
seardiing  for  its  original  proprietor. 

Boon  after  this,  t&  prinoipal  baronB  of  AmHa  propoaed  to  hint 
that  he  should  i«me  orders  f»  hig  eoronation-,  but  this  he  de- 
cided for  the  present,  and  satisied  himself  with  appointins  as 
his  lieutenant  his  umde,  %  Fien  of  Apnlia,  a  hdg^t  of  a  middle 
■ge^afcmved  valour,  and  distinguined  byni  inflexiUe  lercrof 


aftv  faavii^  p«vlMHly  Mooed  tl 

now  is  nei^  dauer  than  evOT. 

A  duke  dwdleth  Calabre  beside, 
A  Stent  nun  sad  of  great  pride. 


uL,  Google 


530  KIXLT  EirCLlSB  KETBtCAX  SOMAXCK3. 

He  ma  vagbtj  uid  of  great  pomn: 
Ikfsa  drcMled  him  both  fiv  ud  near; 
Bis  BUM  wu  Duke  Oerou ; 
Of  Semaaj  land  h«  ma  fasron. 
Thk  formkbUe  duke  hftd  convinced  himself  thai  the  pcsacssiMi 
irf  the  beaud&d   hinieas  of   CtJsbTis   would   add  much   to   hia 

ylu» ,  and  that  her  unplc  territory  would  form  &  verj  »^ee- 

•ble  addition  to  hie  dominions;  for  which  reasou  he  had  signified 
to  the  lady  his  intention  of  marrying  her,  if  she  chose  to  accept 
his  hand,  or  of  destroying  every  man,  woman,  and  child,  in  Cala- 
bria, if  she  r^ected  his  offer.  From  his  mode  of  courtship  we 
may  infer  that  he  did  not  think  his  person  very  seducing ;  and  the 
lady,  who  had  some  reasons  for  believing  her  lover  tc  be  the 
bravest  as  well  as  the  haadsomeet  knight  m  the  world,  disouseed 
the  duke's  ambassadors  with  a  most  contemptuous  refusal,  and 
prepnred  to  defend  herself  as  well  as  she  could ;  white  her  fero- 
cious suitor  collected  a  formidable  army,  and  prepared  to  earn-  his 
threats  into  immediate  execution.  Such  was  the  state  of  omurs, 
as  reported  to  Ipomydon  hj  the  emissary  whom  he  had  again  left 
behind  him  after  his  last  expedition  to  Calabria. 

Instead  of  preparing  to  meet  his  rival  with  the  military  arma- 
ments of  a  migh^  monarch  onr  hero  had  reconrae  to  one  of  his 
wual  devices: 

Bight  unseemly,  in  quaint  manere, 
He  him  dight,  as  ye  shall  hear. 
A  barber  he  (adled,  withouten  more. 
And  shave  him,  both  behind  and  before, 
Qoaintly  indented,  ant  and  in ; 
And  also  he  shore  half  his  chiu : 
He  eeemed  a  fool,  that  quaint  are, 
Both  bj  head  and  by  attire. 
Annoar  he  took  that  was  rustye, 
And  horsed  him  on  an  old  rooncy' ; 
An  helm  as  Uack  as  any  nan ; 
A  crooked  spear  be  took  nim  than. 
When  that  he  was  thus  dight. 
He  seemed  til  a  doughty  uignt. 
Thus  fimtastically  accoutred,   he  set  tff  alone  to  the  ooort  oT 
Meleagcr,  suddenlv  hurst  into  the  hall  with  the  gesturea  of  a 
madman,  and  wi&  apparent  awkwardness  shivered  his  speai  so 
that  the  splinters  were  scattered  npon  the  taUe.    Both  kuig  and 
queen  were  delisted  at  the  arrival  of  the  whimvcal  and  unex- 
pcoted  visitor.    "  Fool,  go  to  meat,"  was  the  hospitaUe  exdama- 


giiizcdt*  Google 


THE  LITE  OF  IFOKTDOH.  S21 

tion  of  both  i  bat  the  fool  would  not  set  domt  to  table  till  he  htkd 
exftoted,  BS  a  boon,  that  he  should  be  permitted  to  take  the  first 
adventure  whioh  ehould  ofler.  A  request  apparently  so  unimport- 
Knt  was  granted  without  difficulty,  and  the  guest«  were  in  eipeiy' 
tation  of  receiving  infinite  ajnusemcnt  from  their  fool,  when  a 
damsel  mounted  on  a  white  mule,  and  accompanied  by  a  dwarf, 
entered  the  hall  and  Tode  up  to  Moleager. 

This  damse!  was  va  envoy  from  the  princess  of  Calabria,  who 
sent  her  to  requeat  the  aid  of  her  uncle  against  the  odious  Duke 
Oeron,  who  had  found  little  difficulty  in  dissipating  the  effeminate 
troops  of  Calabria,  and  now  actually  besieged  her  in  her  dtadeL 
Heleagcr,  replied,  that  Sir  Campanys,  whom  aloue  he  could  have 
trusted  as  a  champion  capable  of  lacing  the  redoubtable  Oeron, 
wai  now  abeen^  with  all  hiE  best  knights,  on  a  distant  expedition, 
and  that  he  had  no  one  calculated  to  undertake  the  adventure. 
At  this  instant  the  fool  started  up,  and  claimed  the  king's  promise; 
and  though  the  damsel  iudignaetlj  disclaimed  such  aa  assistant 
be  persevered  in  asserting  his  right,  and  declared  himself  ready  to 
fight  Sir  Oeron.  She  turned  away  and  departed ;  but  the  fool  soon 
overtook  her,  and  became  her  iaithful  though  unwelcome  com- 
paniou.  She  ordered  the  dwarf  to  pitch  her  tent ;  she  took  her 
repast  with  him,  hut  would  not  offer  a  morsel  to  the  fool :  fortun- 
ately the  fool  had  dined  and  paid  no  attention  to  her  discourse. 
But  her  dinner  was  shortly  interrupted  by  a  still  more  disagreeable 
visitant.  One  of  Duke  Oeron's  warriors  rode  up  to  the  tent, 
hailed  the  damsel  as  his  mistress,  and  without  further  ceremony 
proceeded  to  treat  her  as  such.  It  should  seem  that  the  duke  him- 
self being  an  enemy  to  much  form  on  such  oocasiDus,  all  his  fol- 
lowers had  abridged  as  much  as  possible  the  minutite  of  courtship. 
But  tho  fool  interfered;  and,  after  a  short  verbal  altercation 
seised  a  piece  of  a  tent-pole,  laid  the  knight  with  one  blow  dead 
at  his  feet,  and  bestowed  upon  the  dwarf  his  horse  and  armour, 
reserving  only  his  enemy's  spear,  which  seemed  to  be  a  strong  one, 
for  some  future  occasiou. 

They  then  resumed  their  journey;  but  at  their  next  resting- 
place  they  were  assaulted  by  a  second  adventurer,  as  amorous  as 
the  former,  but  not  more  fortunate.  Being  compelled  to  juat  with 
the  fool  before  he  could  obtain  possession  of  the  lady,  he  was 
piorced  through  the  heart  by  the  spear  of  his  apparently  con- 
temptible adversary,  and  his  spoils  were  agiun  given  to  the  dwarf, 
who  began  to  think  that  madness  and  great  military  skill  were 
more  compatible  than  he  had  hitherto  imagined. 

Again  they  reaumed  their  journey;  and  travelling  till  near  the 
close  of  evening,  pitched  their  tent,  and  hoped  to  esoape  all  further 
iDtemiption ;  out  tiiev  were  disappointed. 

Bight  u  tney  sat  ana  made  them  {[Itwi 
Xhere  came  a  knight,  as  the  devil  him  uide; 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BABLT  nOLISH  HZTBICIX  SSlUJICn. 

HawM  tlw  Aike'i  brotbcr  Qtnn; 
111  wu  bbck  tbt  be  had  on, 
Both  fail  bone  hmI  hii  w««d: 
To  tke  tBkid  hegu)  him  speed. 
And  Hid,  "aUw  I  find  700  bm, 
Te  Bball  b«  raj  leman  dew." 

The  fool  Bud,  "NkT,  not  k>, 
Anotber  the  kath  taW  ber  to ; 
ntat  I  ain  that  tbou  MMt  here ; 
If  thou  bcr  bvj.  idw  n  too  dew." 
*F(K^"  he  Hid,  "thon  boordest  Sn*e'; 


With  tbv  duffing  thoa  gtttnt  bar  oMf^: 
If  Ibou  her  hmw*.  tbea  immI  b«r  bof 
'Mier  tban  vnt  did  L" 


Tbm  WM  no  longer  to  aUde, 
But  flitber  of  tbeni  to  oUker  gan  no 
The  fool  net  the  knight  h 
That  Ui  bmk  twut  on  two. 
With  that  atnke  be  him  dew. 
And  biiarmoDroff  befrew; 
Anon  he  took  the  kni^tp  eteed, 


n^  abaage  of  armour  produced  laek  a  difierenoe  in  hia  wbote 
^maranoe,  titMX  tike  dainad,  in  wtwan  bia  Mfawiahing  rtnai^ 
and  actintj  bad  alrea^  excded  mom  wiipidona,  eanined  bm 
again  with  great  attmoon,  and  at  lai^th  convinced  hva^  that 
beoooldbenootbertliantbe  "(traiige  aqoiK."  SbenowlaBsntad 
the  dieooorteej  with  whidt  ahie  had  lutherto  treated  bin,  and 
viahed  to  make  amends  br  u>  eicew  of  kindneM.    Tbef  ail  i«- 


tii«d  early  to  rest ;  and  the  dwaif  withoot  lose  of  time,  d  .„ 
more;  at  which  aigusl  the  damsel  rose,  and  &tVoaciiii^  the 
knubt,  made  bim  a  yery  unexpected  and  Bnnam  nd  deda^ion 
of  Jove,  adding  that,  thoiwh  in  the  leniceof  the  orinMH  of  Cala- 
Iffia,  BM  was  not  kit  nob^  bom,  scaroeljr  le«  ridi,  equally  haaA- 
scntte,  and  of  a  more  affertionate  diipedtion  than  ttat  laitf,  far 
whom  be  had  soffered  so  much ;  and  ready  to  aceompanr  hna  in 
all  his  fortonM,  without  giving  him  the  trouble  of  kiOii^  an 
e  dukea  or  knights  for  her  sake.  Bat  the  knight^  wbo  hM 
imed  the  disguise  of  a  madman  for  his  own  puixwHi,  waaaat 
disposed  to  forcKo  to  suddenW  the  privil^^  oi  hia  outiaalH^ 
Feigning  to  be  |>lagaed  by  a  i£Hgre«abIe  dream,  be  bqan  to  gea- 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


THK  LITE   OP  IFOXTIWR.  523 

ticukte  with  meh  -riolenoe,  whilBt  he  uttered  the  moat  incoherent 

^acul&tioufi,  that  the  love-sick  damgel,  after  reoeiving  a  few 
bruieefl  from  Mb  elboDB,  and  uaiTOwIv  escaping  a  violent  coDtuBi(»t 
on  her  nose,  was  oompelled  to  absJidon  herpoipoce,  and  leave  him 
to  his  elumbera. 


leave  of  the  knight,  aAer  inquiring  whether  he  was  stUl  disposed 
to  fulfil  his  promise  to  Meleager,  and  undertake  the  battle ;  to 
which  he  answered,  still  in  hie  assumed  character,  th&t  he  poeraUj 
might,  but  that  after  Burvejing  I>uke  Oeron  in  Uie  moniiiig  M 
dicmld  determine  whether  be  tiked  bis  looks,  ^ia  do^itftil 
menage,  therefore,  die  ocwrejed  to  ^e  prineeas,  who,  teivii^ 
little  consolatioD  from  it,  now  emidored  henrif  in  KMeimtioK  tb« 
[mpcratiou  which  Ae  had  made  for  her  tac^e  from  a  mtadel 
iriuoh  she  was  no  longer  able  to  defcnd. 

ttrAe  Oeron,  aware  that  hia  awMSM  drooidad  wy  mxch  on  hii 
aTaiHiw  himself  of  the  general  alarm  wnkh  tits  tifii^ty  <rf  Ub 
inroad  bad  inspired,  and  tiiat  the  BlUes  of  the  prinoeM  m^t  in  « 
dtort  time  come  to  her  astiataaoe,  in  sueh  mmben  as  to  eumftl 
him  to  imse  the  dca  spared  no  Mine  to  intimidate  " 
into  a  ipeedy  SDnrender.  He  had  (dyanaad  to  the 
dtadd,  andhad  threstened  an  tiMiidiaUtaata  wiAia 
nuuneie^  nnlen  the  prinecM  were  deBvered  to  Urn,  or  B  Aaoipiatt 
aent  oat  to  combat  him  in  tlte  Sdd,  when  he  dinov««d  »  km^it 
whom  he  mistoiA  fcr  hia  bretber,  advauulug  tomfc  klm,  aM 
atrddenlr  heard  faimsdf  addrened  by  »  vmoe  to  whiA  he  Wttft 
perfect  stranger,  and  in  a  tone  by  ro  meaaa  fcalaiaal. 

"What  art  tlM«  tint  makcat  thia  a> 


■tesoneat 
l.-lerdofa 


I  am  sakyr  Ihia  maid  to  win. 
And  win  do  «o  ere  I  hence  gon; 
That  othar  husband  getteth  she  BoneT 
iBomrdon  aaid,  "That  thoa  ahalt  miss, 
?or  an  mine  own  that  lat^  i^ 
And  Ml  long  she  hath  be  ao ; 
Therefore^  I  rede  thee,  henoe  got 
I  win  her  defend  from  all  men." 
The  duke  answered  bitterly  then. 
"Traitonrl"  he  said,  "thou  art  another; 
I  weened  thoa  hadst  been  mybmdker; 
His  ateed  thoa  hast,  bis  armour  lo ; 
Hum  hast  him  slain  I  trow  also." 


uL,  Google 


&34  £ABLT  E50LISH  KETKICIX  BOMAITCBe. 

"  Thmt  I  bim  slew  I  gainsaj  nonght; 

Thee  so  to  serre  have  I  thonKht." 

With  thnt  irord,  withouten  Le, 

Fut  together  gan  they  hie, 

That  their  Epeareg  all  to-brut ; 

Thef  drew  their  swerdea  and  fou^t  &rt. 

The  lady  laj  ia  a  high  tower, 

And  B%w  between  them  all  the  Btour; 

But  she  ne  wist  which  for  her  did  fight, 

For  they  in  like  weed  were  dight. 
We  have  Been  tbat  Geron  himself  had  mistaken  hia  antagonist 
fbr  hia  brother ;  and  the  princess,  veir  naturally  supposing  tfaat 
the  odious  duke  was  the  most  formidable  knight  in  the  wond  ex- 
cepting the  stmOKe  squire  her  lorer,  no  less  naturally  concluded, 
when  either  tnigbt  appeared  to  giun  a  yisible  advantage,  that  he 
was  Oeron.     Ipomydon,   however,   though  he  had   never   before 
encountered  such  a  formidable   adversary,  obtained  at  length  a 
decided  superioritv ;  and  Qcron,  staggering  under  the  weight  of 
a  blow  which  his  nehnet  had  resisteaTbut  which  had  nearly  dis- 
located his  neck,  sued  for  merc^,  promised  to  evacuate  Caiabrii^ 
to  repay  all  the  damages  occasioned  by  his  troops,  to  become  the 
vassal  of  hia  conqueror,  and  to  yield  him  an  annual  tribute  of  » 
thousand  pounds  of  gold.     Promises  of  this  kind  were  held  so 
■acred  by  ue  laws  of  chivalry,  that  Ipomydon,  after  assenting  to 
the  oontDtiouB,  haateued  to  the  gate  of  the  citadel,  where  he  ex- 
paoted  to  be  received  with  open  arms,  and  was  much  surpiiaed  at 
finding  that  neither  threats  nor  entreaties  could  obtain  him  ad- 
mittance.    In  &ct  his  mistress  was  no  longer  there. 
Beside  the  csatle  where  in  was  the  eyre,' 
Renneth  a  river  long  and  Mr, 
With  shippes  and  sayles  manifold, 
Their  foremes*  were  of  fine  gold,  tic. 
In  short,  prepossessed  that  the  victor  knight  must  be  the  tyrant 
whom  she  dreaded,  she  had  escaped  at  one  gate  when  her  defender 
approached  the  other,  embarked  without  delay,  and  was  hastraiina 
down  the  river  as  &sC  as  her  sails,  her  oars,  and  the  current  coulS 
carry  her,  whilst  Ipomydon  was  vainly  remonstrating  with  the 
keepers  of  the  gate,  who,  having  heard  from  their  Dtistress  that  he 
must  be  I>uke  Oeron,  were  determined  to  believe  that  he  omild 
be  no  other  person,  and  were  confirmed  in  their  obetiuacj  by  ob- 
MTving  the  departure  of  the  hostile  army,  without  whose  aid  it 
was  obviously  impossible  that  he  should  force  an  entrance. 
Fortunately,  wnile  the  princess  was  retreating  so  preciidtatalj 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


Tns  Lirs  OF  iPOHTsoiT.  S25 

down  the  river,  ^  Camp&njrs  and  the  rest  of  her  uncle'i  knisbtfl 
were  murchiiw  along  its  faimkB  to  her  unstanae.  The^  hukd 
the  venela,  and  with  Mme  diffionltj  obtained  a  parlej,  m  which 
the  fiightened  prino««  gave  them  the  best  information  in  her 
power  eoncenung  the  odrentures  of  her  damsel  and  the  fool,  and 
OOnoerainfF  the  eombat  in  whi^  one  of  the  knights  had  heen 
Tictoriom,  and  rwpecting  her  flight,  which  she  had  valiantly 
deferred  till  the  veir  last  moment.  Sir  Campanrs,  who  was  not  at 
all  frightened,  could  not  help  remarking  to  her  a  ciTonrastanaQ  in 
her  uurative  which  reqaixed  further  explanation ;  namely,  that 
being  in  possession  of  a  rtrong  castle,  defended  by  a  numennn 
gamaon,  she  had  at  length  fled  from  it  on  the  approach  <^  a 
single  knight.  He  therefore  conjnred  her  to  retuTD,  and  promieed 
to  clear  up  the  myrtery,  and  c»on  to  bring  her  the  head  of  Oeron, 
if  it  should  appear  that  be  had  heen  the  victor  in  the  late 
<xanbat. 

The  lady  now  consented  to  go  back :  but,  on  apiiroaching  the 
castle,  kept  her  vessels  in  the  middle  of  Uie  river,  whilst  Sir  Cam- 
panya  and  his  knighta  rode  forward  to  the  gate,  where  the;  beheld 
a  knight  whose  annonr  led  them  to  think  that  the  fean  of  the 
princess  were  well  fotuided. 

Sir  Campany's  B^d  in  this  manere ; — 
**  What  art  thou  that  stasdest  here  I 


Sir  Campanys  now  inaiated  on  his  retiring  immediately,  OO  pain 
of  being  treated  Uke  a  common  robber,  and  attacked  by  hioMnlf 
and  all  hia  friends  at  the  same  time.  Ipomydon  was  oumpletdy 
confounded  by  this  unexpected  outrage,  and  alnuwt  ftndea  him- 
self in  a  dreiam ;  but  at  lenguij  seeing  that  Campanys  prepared 
to  carry  his  threats  into  execution,  drew  his  sword,  set  nis  hack 
a^nst  a  buttress  of  the  wall,  and  defended  himself  with  mdi 
-8  to  keep  his  aasiulanta  at  bay,  till  one  of  his  g "-*- 


being  chopped  off,  he  was  forced  to  ^nsp  his  sword  in  his  naked 
hand,  m  wbidi  was  displayed  the  ring  presented  to  him  by  his 
mother. 

The  si^t  operated  like  a  talisman  upon  Sir  Campanys,  who 
instaitt^  dropped  the  point  of  hia  sword  and  demand^  a  parley, 
to  the  gTMt  relief  of  all  the  comhatantL  who  were  by  this  time 
eiceedind;  dred,  and  after  some  difficult  in  a^nsting  a  point 
of  great  impcntanee  in  chivalry,  namdy,  the  right  of  putting  tl» 
first  qnestion,  th^  at  length  came  to  an  exj^anaticn,  by  whidi  it 
appeared  that  Sir  Campanys  vna  the  long  fost  brother  of  Iponqr- 
drai,  and  that  Ipomydon  was  the  itrange  iqaire;  the  white,  nid, 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


fi26  XAKLT  mxaiMK  Mxxucu.  moMutCEa. 

Hid  Uad:  kmglit  1  tite  durabcrfau  of  UalMVar'a  qoMa  1  4be  fiMi ; 
and  Um  nnited  brotlMr  of  Dnkc  Qeron. 

With  Oaa  itod  ctf  iiofWTUnt  intdligenee  tfaa  knighto  fcpund 
totiie  liTCT^ide;  uid,  taough  uMUe  ta  ttmmuiatate,  at  aafb  » 
■"^-■1-.  »  Tei7  QinnuBstaBtial  Moovnt  of  what  had  pWMd,  cen- 


to the  "ttxaagt  •quire."  The  srinMM,  uew  a«r«d  ctf  fao  feai% 
ordered  out  &  bo*L  threw  hendf  into  i^  urged  the  iiiiiJHwi  to 
coanj  het  with  tue  utncttt  po«iUe  rlMpaSah,  Kod  fMug  har 
Icret  OB  the  bank, 

She  la^wd  out  of  the  boat  on  iae, 

Into  tho  water  that  he  atoed  hj; 

And  be  in  after,  woader  lact, 

That  op  he  gat  her  at  the  laet. 

When  the?  come  (into  the  lond, 

IpOBTdfHi  took  her  1^  the  boDO, 

iai  told  her  tbn^  withoaten  £ul, 

Her  love  had  oauaed  him  great  tmvail. 

He  then  relmted  Ter;  modeetly  uid  waixincOj  big  -rariana  ez- 

plojta,  to  which;  she  listened  with  delight  and  attoitioD,  and 

abstained  from  swooning  with  pleasure  tiU  he  h»d  condoded  hit 

whole  narrative ;  after  which,  and  a.  great  de&]  of  kjising  and  em- 


and  sent  out  "letters  of  great  noblaT"  to  King  Heleager,  to  the 
emperor,  to  Sir  Pien  of  Apulia,  and  to  all  the  archhishopa,  biabopt 
and  nobles  of  the  a^oining  oountrj,  to  attend  the  stJemniiatioR 
(tf  their  snptialB.    TUs  si^Midid  assembly  b»ng  ooBvaued, 

On  the  morrow,  when  it  was  day, 

Thej  busked  them,  as  I  you  say, 

Toward  the  ofaureh,  with  game  and  ^ee, 

lo  make  that  great  sidempnit^. 

The  arob-bislKm  of  that  lidid 

Wedded  thent,!  uxdnatawL 

When  it  was  done,  as  I  you  say, 

HoDk  they  went  wttha«t  delay. 

Sj  that  they  oonw  to  the  cartel, 

Tteir  meat  was  ready  every  deL 

Trumpes  to  meat  gan  Uow  tho, 

Claryons  and  other  miustr^  mo. 

Tho  they  washed  and  went  to  meat, 

And  evMj  lord  took  his  seat. 

When  th^  viete  set,  all  the  rouL 

HinatrebUew  then  alt  about, 

TiU  tbe^  were  aervad  with  jnde 

Of  the  first  ooitne  that  tide. 


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XBS  un  OP  iroMTiMir. 


tfam'  tUe,  and  nutde  titem  gbd. 
With  mdi  serrioe  u  thej  hsd. 
When  tber  iud  dined,  aa  I  yon  07, 
Iiordie  mm  bdwt  j«de  to  plsy ; 
Some  to  tables,  and  iome  to  cfaiM^ 
With  other  gMSM  more  and  leas, 
de,  Ipomjdoa  distribnted,  at  the  e 
Itxgemee  to  the  minetrek  and  othei 
ui^  the  company ;  and  bestowed  oa  hia  broths  &t  Ckm- 
'■1  inTeatiture  of  Apulia,  with  the  leserre  of  a  ringle  eari- 
ich  was  alienated  in  favour  of  Sir  Thokmiew:  m  abo 
coniHTed  on  bis  respectable  aad  apparentlj  aged  fbBteT<4UheT 
"a  maiden  his  lief  to  oe ;"  and,  with  in<»«  seeming  pri^ri^,  gave 
the  hand  t^  another  nuwieB,  together  with  the  iuMid  of  Cmte  u 
&  Maniage  pwtion,  to  his  joong  friend  asd  otnopanion  Sir  Jaaon. 
^Mte  acta  of  generodty  maintained  and  increased  the  roytaticn 
whici)  he  had  alreadj  acquired,  and  the  remainder  of  his  liiB  ma 
q)ent  in  tranqiulhtj  and  h^^ness. 


aai^si 


SIR  EQLAMOUR  OP  ARTOYS. 

na  fUlewiiiK  atxtnet  a  takeo  &om  ■  cop;  in  Gurick'i  coUeetion, 
*!■(&  wu  printed  "  tf  Londcm  in  FonrtCT  line,  at  Uui  rfgne  of  tite  Hartes 
hotBe.  b)r  iaba  WaUer."  Another  printed  copf  is  pmerred  in  the  Bod. 
kiaa.  Here  are  three  MSS.  of  this  romince,  one  of  which  la  in  the 
CettOB  Idbnrj,  Ca%.  A.  iH. ;  iinothrT  in  the  Fnblie  Library  C«mhrid|e, 
Ff.  il.  3S;  umI  e  third  in  Biibop  Percf's  toiio.' 

The  writer  tell>  us  in  the  lut  stanza,  that  "in  romBunce  this  chronicle 
is;"  so  thit  Rition  can  hare  had  no  good  reason  to  dnnbt  its  being  1 
trMuIatian,  merely  becanse  the  Fren<±  original  has  not  yet  heai  dk' 
coraied.  Tie  tame  remarli  will  apply  te  Sir  Tryamonr. — It  oontua 
214  itaonl  of  six  Iikb. 

At  the  time  when  the  oonntry  of  Artois,  Eince  incorporated  with 
France,  was  governed  by  its  native  sovereigns,  there  reigned  there 
a  count  named  Sir  PnnsamouT,  whose  conrt,  though  neither  so 
magnificent  nor  ao  numerous  as  those  of  more  powerful  monarchs, 
afforded  an  excellent  seminarj  for  the  instruction  of  youth  in  the 

'  The  canons  romaDce  ot  Torrent  of  Portugal  >■  focnded  on  the  seme 
tale  as  Sir  Eglamour.  The  copy  of  the  latter  in  the  Cambridge  MS.  WU 
printed  in  the  Thornton  Romajuea,  ed.  UaUiweUL 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


<3S  X&BLT  EITOLIIH  XETBICU.  BOIUIfCEa. 

eonrtw;  tnd  aooonplUbraeittB  of  diivaliy.  PrinswDonT  had  & 
duster  luuned  OrjiAabtHl,  the  intended  heirew  of  his  damuiioas, 
of  whoae  beiiuty  and  socompluhmenti  he  ma  deaerredlj  proad. 
and  whom  he  huped  to  plaoe  on  one  of  the  principal  tfaroneB  in 
Enrope.  But  CrTStabell  mu  not  ambitioui.  Educated  in  ho- 
bthor'i  court,  she  wis  naturally  partial  to  iti  inhabitante,  and 
among  these  there  was  a  joung  knight  to  whom  she  was  more 
partiBl  than  to  the  rest,  either  beouise  he  woe  handsomer,  or 
because  at  the  numerous  tournament*  which  Prinsamonr  had 
ordered  to  be  procliumed  in  her  name,  and  ^hich  bad  drawn 
together  a  Uxge  oonooune  of  strangers,  he  had  nnifDrmlj-  been 
victorious.  He  was  a  natiye  of  her  other's  dominions,  and  bis 
name  was  Sir  glamour. 

The  joung  knightu  on  his  part,  had  always  heard  that  Cryats- 
bdl  was  the  most  cnarming  of  her  sex ;  and  he  had  no  bdob^ 
behdd  her  than  he  became  more  oonfinned  in  this  opinion.  To 
please  her  had  been,  from  this  moment,  the  gi'sat  object  of  his  life; 
witti  this  purpose  always  in  bis  new,  he  had  made  sncb  a  progress 
in  the  exercises  of  chivalry  as  to  be  considered  nearly  invincible; 
and  bii  superiority  was  viewed  without  envy,  because  bis  prowesiL 
eeiierallj  manifested  at  the  expense  of  strangers,  cast  a  lefleoted 
lustre  on  all  the  knights  of  Artois. 

By  degrees  the  princess  had  acquired  the  habit  of  oonndering 
him  as  "  her  knignt ;"  and  others  had  insensibly  given  him  the 
tame  appelUtion,  which,  though  apparently  unimportant  because 
he  was  ner  fitther's  subject,  was  infinitely  grateAil  to  ium,  uid 
naturally  led  to  that  sort  of  familiarity  wtiicfi  enabled  him  to  db- 
cover  that  he  was  not  considered  with  indifference  by  his  mistreaB. 
Eavinff  proceeded  thus  far,  he  naturally  wished  to  advance  a 
step  fuTtner,  and  to  obtain  the  advioe  and  assistauoe  of  a  oonfii^t. 
He  therefore  had  recourse  to  his  trusty  chamberlain ;  bat  the 
chamberlain  gave  Iiim  no  enoooragement.     He  observed  that, 

The  man  that  hewetu  over-high, 

Some  obip  &Ueth  in  his  eye ;" 
and  that  a  simple  knight,  with  no  property  bnt  that  which  he  had 
acquired  by  his  sword,  and  without  an  acre  of  territory,  oonM 
not,  without  madness,  pretend  to  the  hand  of  a  princess,  whose 
&tber,  however  fond  of  her  and  desirous  of  promoting  her  happi< 
jttn,  WM  still  more  anxiouB  for  her  further  elevatian. 

Eglamour  sighed  and  said  no  mair, 

:&it  to  his  chamber  gon  he  hre. 
That  richly  was  wrought; 
,  To  Ood  his  band  he  held  up  soon; 

;Lordl"  he  said,  "grant  me  a  boon, 
As  thou  on  rood  me  bought! 

The  erVa  daughter,  Eair  and  fra^ 

That  sh«  may  my  wife  be ! 


uL,  Google 


SIB    EOI-UIOUB    OF    ARTOYit.  S39 

For  the  is  most  in  my  thought: 
That  I  may  wed  her  to  mj  wife, 
And  in  jo;  to  lead  our  life ! 
From  care  then  nere  I  brought." 

It  WM  with  perfeijt  simplicitj  and  sincerity  of  heart,  that  tha 
good  knight  addressed  hie  Creator  in  the  same  tenoB  which  ho 
would  liave  employed  to  Boiicit  a  &vour  from,  a  feudal  superior; 
and  he  evinced  at  least  the  extent  of  his  care  and  anxiety,  by 
fretting;  himself  into  a  violent  fever,  which  disabled  him  trota 
appeanug  the  next  dar  at  the  table  of  his  Bovereign.  Hie  abeenoe 
of  course  was  noticea  by  the  princees,  who  anxioneiy  inquired 
after  the  health  of  "  her  inight ;"  and  who,  we  may  Buppoae,  wb8 
not  a  little  pleased  at  the  positive  injunction  which  she  received 
from  her  &ther,  to  repair  immediately  after  dinner  to  the  chamber 
of  SBx  Bglamour,  and  to  eiamino  the  nature  of  hia  malady.  Pep- 
hapa,  toc^  she  was  not  much  displeased  at  receiving  from  the  uck 
inan  a  formal  declaration  of  his  pSBsioii,  to  which  she  listened  with 
much  patience,  and  answered,  that  if  he  could  obtain  the  consent 
of  the  parent  whom  it  was  her  duty  to  obey,  she  should  feel  no 
ditdnclination  to  snch  a  marriage. 

Sir  Bglamour  was  restored  to  new  life  by  this  &Toniablg 
aniwer.  He  bestowed  a  magnificent  present  on  the  two  damsels 
who  aooompanied  his  nuBtress,  and  was  rewarded  for  his  generodty 
by  a  kiss  from  her  lips,  and  by  an  avowal  of  her  affection,  after 
vmioh  she  repaired  to  the  count,  and  informed  him  that  the  knifht 
was  BO  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  hnnt  on  the  foUowug 
day;  and  Fiinsamour,  r^oiced  at  this  sudden  and  unexpected 
oure,  declared  his  resolution  of  aocompanying  the  knight  m  hii 
diversion. 

In  returning  from  this  tiate,  Sir  Bglamour  ventured  to  maks 
his  proposal,  to  the  great  surprise  in  the  ooont,  who  had  not 
hitherto  suspected  the  secret  motive  which  had  induced  his 
daughter  to  T^eot  with  Bcom  the  addressee  of  all  her  other  eoitor^ 
and  now  ardently  wished  to  procure  the  destruction  of  the  youns 
knight,  who,  wlulst  he  lived,  oould  not  fail  of  disappointmg  ul 
the  expectations  whioh  he  had  founded  on  the  advantageous  mar- 
rii^  of  CrystabeU.  Be,  however,  dissembled  his  indignation,  uil 
oalMy  replied,  that  the  possessor  of  his  daughter  must  purohaao 
her  by  aooomptishing  three  several  feats  of  arms,  each  of  which 
wotdd  expose  the  candidate  for  her  band  to  the  most  imminent 
danger,  but  that  the  reward  of  snooeas  would  be  not  only  the  hand 
of  (Sjrtabell,  but  the  immediate  poesession  of  the  whole  territory 
of  Artois.  ST  B^lamcuT  was  transported  with  jov.  He  was  only 
impatient  to  be  mformed  of  the  aohievement  which  he  was  re- 
qoired  in  the  first  instanoe  to  accomplish,  and  declared  that  bg 
wonld  be  ready  to  set  off  on  the  following  day. 

"Than  is,"  nid  the  oonid,  "at  a  short  distanoe  to  tha  irestwait^ 
Sx 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


530  EAALT  EXOLTBH  ketsicai,  KaxincEs. 

a  forest  of  noble  trees  belonging  to  a  ntMt  l«mble  gunt  named  Sr 
Maroke.  la  a  port  of  this  forest,  which  ia  indoMd  with  a  loftj 
wall,  and  more  paiiicuUriy  Teseired  for  his  hmoMmentB,  are  three 
harts  remarkable  for  their  transcenduit  sise  and  swiftness.  To 
dfltermine  on  cbacinK  one  of  these  animals  is  to  nndartake  a  aiit|^ 
combat  with  the  dreadfiit  Sir  Maroke.  Oonsider  whether  j<m 
have  firmnen  enou^  for  such  an  enterprise."  Sir  ^^azooiir  did 
not  hesitate,  bnt  having  promised  to  kill  the  giant,  ha^ened  to  hig 
mistress,  and  with  transports  of  J07  informed  her  at  what  had 

"Oood  sir,"  she  said.  "bemeriT  and  ^ad! 

For  a  worse  jonme  ye  never  had 
In  no  Chnstian  counted ! 

Sit,  if  yon  be  on  hnntii^  found, 

I  shall  70U  give  a  good  gre^oond. 
That  is  dun  as  a  doe; 

For  a«  I  am  a  trae  gentilwoman, 

There  was  never  deer  that  he  at  im, 
^at  might  soape  him  fro. 

Also  a  awerde  I  give  thee, 

That  was  fonnd  in  the  sea, 
Of  audi  know  I  no  mo. 

If  ye  have  hap  to  keep  H  wrfe. 

There  is  no  helm  of  iron  and  ited 
Bat  it  would  carve  in  two." 

BrlaniDur  kissed  that  lady  gent. 

He  took  his  leave  and  forth  he  went, 
and  having  reached  the  gianf  a  park,  followed  the  -wall  tH  he 
arrived  at  the  gate,  and  entered. 

The  trees,  which  were  principal^  oypress-erees,  smeared  to  be 
as  fine  as  he  had  any  reason  to  expect ;  the  deer,  of  whose  sixe  and 
beanty  be  was  a  mnoh  better  judge,  were  the  laigest  that  he  bad 
ever  seen;  and  the  dun  greyhound  booq  oanvinceahiin,bypnlliiK 
down  the  oboioest  of  the  three  famous  harts,  that  the  princaaa  had 
not  ez^verated  his  merits.  8ir  Egtemonr  now  sounded  his  bom 
with  such  power  that  the  giant,  though  a  very  good  sleeper,  and 
lodged  at  a.  considerable  disbuc^waa  instantly  nmaed,  and  hastaned 
to  the  gate  by  whioh  the  intrudJer  had  enteiwL  widi  a  fbll  dete^ 
mination  of  saorificing  him  to  the  manes  of  his  aausbtered  venison. 
The  knight  in  the  mean  time  had  delibeTateily  vntMK  (carved)  Oa 
animal,  blowing  (A«  piHte  at  intervals  opoa  lus  horn,  and  arriving 
at  the  gate,  vety  dvilly  saluted  the  giant,  and  requested  leave  to 
MAS  throngh  with  his  prey.  Sir  Maroke  answered  in  very  ooane 
lanmuigSj  and  seizing  his  club,  aimed  a  blow  at  his  oppontnt's 
head.  Sir  E^lamou  at  the  same  monwtit  drew  bis  sword,  the 
brightness  ot  which  not  only  dazded  the  eyea  of  the  gian^  bvt 
totioly  deprived  him  of  ti^. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


aia.  Eoi^xoDK  o 

Howbeit  he  lo«t  hii  li 
He  fought  with  Sir  E„ 
Two  dajes  tad  mote. 
Tin  the  third  dmj  ttt  prime ;' 
Sir  EglamouT  waited  wdl  liia  time, 

And  to  the  he&rt  him  bore. 
Thoroush  Goddia  loight,  and  his  kniie, 
There  tne  cyBiuite  loet  his  life ; 

Fast  he  began  to  roar. 
For  certAiii  sooth,  as  I  you  Bay, 
When  he  was  nieten'  there  be  lay, 
He  wms  fifteen  feet  and  more, 
ffir  Egtamcmr,  having  cut  off  hia  head,  oanied  it  together  with 
the  Tenifon  to  hia  sovereign,  and  was  rec^ved  on  his  Tetnm  with 
the   acdamationB  of  the  whole  coart.    The  veniion  was  pro- 
nounced to  be  the  fairest  and  fattest  that  had  ever  been  seen ;  and 
it  was  the  general  opinion  that  the  bend  of  Sir  Uaroke  was  the 
larf^t  and  ugliest  head  that  oould  be  imagined,  and  that  even  its 
elevation  to  the  top  of  the  high  ^Knlden  on  which  it  had  been 
ori^jiaUy  placed,  nnist  bava  been  inaaffident  to  softcD  thenatoral 
dc^miity  of  its  features. 

After  three  days  passed  between  travdling  and  hard  fighting 
Sir  Bglainour  required  grane  refmbment ;  bat  no  sooner  was  bu 
strength  recruited,  than  Kr  Prinaamovr  despAtched  him  on  a  new 
adventure,  ordering  him  to  bring  ttnj,  trvm  the  distant  land  of 
Satyn,  the  head  of  a  prodwiow  boar,  wboae  tudci  were  a  yard 
long,  and  who  had  devoored  a  htrge  {nvportion  of  the  inhabitants 
of  that  ill-fated  counti^. 

The  knight  departed,  and  travelled  dnriiig  a  fortnight  by  land, 
and  during  a  second  fortnight  by  sea,  so  that  if  we  knew  the 
direction  in  which  he  moreS,  it  would  be  eaty  to  ascertain  the 
situation  of  the  laud  of  Satj^n ;  bn^  in  the  meantime,  we  must  be 
satisfied  with  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  he  readily  found 
the  boar  who  was  the  object  of  his  jonmey,  whose  lair  was 
surrounded  by  dead  bodies,  many  of  whi^  were  cased  ia  beautiful 
armour. 

Kr  Eglamonr,  having  arrived  in  the  evening,  thoogbt  fit  to 
spend  the  ni^t  in  the  wirts  of  the  foreet,  and  prooeede^a  bttle 
before  Enn-rise,  in  search  of  the  monster,  wbo  was  then  Tetandng 
from  the  sea,  where  he  had  JDit  taken  hU  morning'*  drmtglit.  On 
discovering  the  kni^t,  he  began  to  whet  his  long  toska,  and  then 
rushed  on  to  ^e  attack,  in  which  he  gained  the  first  advauta^, 
and  killed  his  adversary's  hone,  whilst  his  own  tough  hide 
remained  perfectly  uaiBJared  by  the  ^ear.    But  6ir  figlamoor. 

>  The  fint  qaaitar  of  du  artificiU  4ay,  redioniDg  from  tnwtM. 
*  Meted,  i.  e.,  iiisainiviJ. 

S  X  S 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


KETBICAL   SOIUSCBS. 

BDOU  meoTered  his  legs,  and,  drawing  his  esoellcDt  sirord,  ind  the 
pleimre  to  find  that  its  edge  made  some  impreadon  on  hia  advn- 
mtj,  though  the  eoornious  lenRth  of  his  tusks  made  it  impoBsible 
to  clone  with  him.  This  batUe,  therefore,  like  that  which  our 
hero  bad  Bustaincd  against  the  gjaut,  lasted  aIbo  two  daja  and  a 
half,  after  which  the  knight,  having  gained  a  favourable  of^iia- 
nit;  of  approaching  the  monster,  made  a  terrible  blow  at  his 
neck,  and  severed  hu  head  from  his  bodj. 

Stune  time  beforo  the  close  of  this  long  conflict,  the  boar  had 
frequentlv  jelled  so  loud,  that  the  king  of  Satju,  who  was 
hunting  m  tho  forest,  attended  by  fifteen  knights  m  complete 
armour,  dispatched  one  of  them  to  discover  the  oaose  of  this 
unusual  outcry ;  and  this  spectator  arrived  just  in  time  to  witsea 
the  termination  of  the  combat,  the  account  of  which  he  carried 
back  to  ^e  king,  together  with  a  correct  description  of  the 
victor's  armorial  bearings. 

"  Of  gold  he  beareth  a  nemlj'  sight ; 
A  steed  of  azure,  Wid  arm^  knight. 

To  batajle  as  he  should  eon. 
And  on  tlie  crest  upon  the  nead,  is 
A  ladj  made  in  her  likeness : 

Hit  'qnirs  are  saUe  each  one." 
The  king  sud,  "  So  mote  I  the. 
Those  richs  arme«  will  I  see," 

And  thither  he  took  the  waj; 
Sj  that  time  Sir  Eglamoure, 
md  overcome  the  shante  stoure ; 

And  overthwart  the  boar  lay. 
The  king  aaiiL  "  Ood  rest  with  thee  1" 
"  My  lord^'  said  Jiglamour,  "  welcome  be  jre  I 
Of  peace  now  I  thee  pray; 
I  have  so  fougbten  with  the  boar 
That  certainly  I  may  no  more; 
This  is  the  tbirde  day." 
All  the  company  disclaimed  anv  intention  of  molesting  him, 
and  exprened  their  admiration  of  his  prowess,  aasuring  him  that 
UIb  wicked  beast  from  whom  he  bad  Just  freed  them  had  some- 
timee  daetroyed  no  lees  than  forty  brave  men  in  a  day.    The  king 
added,  that,  for  the  love  of  the  stranger,  he  would  take  his  dinner 
on  the  spot ;  and  the  cloth  being  laid,  Sir  glamour  was  plen- 
tiful; r^aled  with  venison  and  rich  wine,  and  uvited  to  spend  » 
fyw  dajrs  at  the  court  of  Satyn,  for  the  puipoae  of  recovering 
from  his  fatigue.    But  there  remained  a  most  important  bu^nen 
to  dispatch,  which  was  to  out  up  the  boai ;  and  for  this  purpose  it 
became  necessary  to  request  the  aid  of  Sir  I^Umour,  because  tiie 
toDgh  hide  of  the  animal  d^ed  the  sharpest  znivea  that  oould  bo 
Aoad  in  the  oonutrj  of  Satyn. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


SIK  EOIiAltODB  OP  ^KTOTS.  533 

I^lftmoiir  to  the  boftr  gui  gon, 
A^d  olave  him  bj  the  rigge-bone/ 
ThatjoYit  waBtoBoe; 
"  Lordings,    he  eaid,  "  gretit  and  amall, 
Give  me  the  head,  and  take  you  til; 

For  why,  that  ie  my  fee." 
AmiinBt  even  the  king  did  dyght 
A  Duth  for  that  gentle  knight. 

That  was  of  herbes  good ; 
Kr  Eglamour  therin  laj, 
Till  it  was  light  of  day. 
That  men  to  mataea  yode.» 
By  means  of  this  long-protract«d  faatti,  Sir  Eglamoor  was  per- 
fectly  restored  to  all  his  powers,  and  became  enabled  to  reward 
his  kind  entert^ner  by  a  serrice  of  great  importance.    The  boar, 
it  seems,  was  connected,  by  the  closest  ties  ot  friendship,  with  a 
huge  and  ugly  giant  named  Sir  Manas,  own  brother  to  the  hideout 
Sir  Maroke,  whom  Eglamour  had  deprived  of  his  bead;  and  thia 
giant  had  thought  fit  to  fall  in  love  with  the  charming  Ardanata, 
daughter  of  King  Edmond   of  Satyn.     Manas  had  lately  been 
absent  on  a  visit  to  his  brother,  but  was  just  returned  in  very  ill 
humour ;  and  it  was  foreseen  that  ho  would  soon  appear  and  renew 
his  attempts  to  carry  off  the  princess.     Accordingly  he  made  his 
appearance  under  the  walls  of  the  castle,  about  the  time  when  Sir 
£glamaur,  having  quitted  the  bath,  b^an  to  arm  himself;  and 
casting  up   his  eyes   beheld,   with  grief   and    indignation,    the 
features  of  his  four-footed  &vourite  exhibited  upon  the  point  of  ft 

And  when  he  looked  on  that  bead, 
"Alasl"  he  cried, "art  thou  dead  1 

My  trust  was  all  in  thee  1 
Now,  by  the  law  that  1  live  in, 
My  Uttle  speckled  hoglin. 

Dear-bought  shall  fiiy  death  be !" 
After  this  pathetic  exclamation,  he  beat  the  walls  with  great 
fury,  and  coutinued  to  threaten  vengeance  on  the  murderer  of  his 
friend,  till  he  was  gratified  by  the  Mght  of  Sir  Eglamour,  who, 
mounted  on  a  fiery  courser,  and  armed  at  all  points,  issued  from 
the  castle,  and  putting  his  lance  in  the  rest,  attacked  him  at  full 
speed.  Sir  Manas  not  only  resisted  the  shock,  but  in  ah  instant 
threw  down  both  man  and  horse ;  bo  that  the  king  and  his  whole 
court  began  to  despair  of  the  safety  of  their  champiou :  but  Sir 
Eglamour,  lightly  springing  up,  drew  his  terrible  sword,  closed 
with  the  giant  and  cut  off  his  right  arm.  The  monster  roared 
with  pain,  but  continued  to  fight,  though  yelling  at  intervals  aa 
loudly  aa  ever,  till  near  sunset,  when  the  patient  kiiight,  who  had 
>  Backboae.  ■  Weot. 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


SS4  EA.BLT  KirCLISH  UETKICAX   BOM^KCEB. 

Utherto  Buffered  him  to  exhanst  himself  hj  his  otrn  efibrti, 
eadtWl;  nuhed  forward  and  completed  his  victorr. 

The  grateful  Edmond  now  wished  to  reward  his  deliverer  bj 
presentiDg  to  him  tJw  beautiful  Ardanato,  together  with  imme- 
diate ponessioD  of  the  kingdom  of  SatTu,  and  the  ;roung  ladj 
Tsadilj  ezpresaed  her  widi  to  become  the  reoompense  of  his 
achievement ;  but  fisding  that  his  heart  waa  already  engaged,  she 

Sromieed  to  wait  fifteen  jvm  tar  the  chance  of  his  being  then  at 
bertj,  and  bestowed  on  him  at  parting  a  ring  of  Buch  virtue  na 
to  preeenre  the  life  of  ita  wearer  £n»D  all  perili  whether  b;  land 
or  Dj  water.  The  knight  thaakfollj  accepted  the  ring;  packed 
Dp  with  the  greatest  care  the  two  gnslj  heads  which  he  had  won 
in  his  adTwtore ;  and,  after  an  abaaaoe  of  teren  weAs,  airived  is 
tbe  cajntal  of  Aitcna. 

PrianmaoT,  hi  hom  teBtilyiiiz  anf  delight  on  remiTiiig  the 
head  of  a  Beoond  giant,  in  additkm  to  Uiat  of  the  boar,  oalj 
muttered  a  few  woMS  tn  oomplaiiit  against  Sir  Bglamonr,  iHwae 
death  be  stiU  hoped  to  ownpan,  and  whom  He  propoeed  imme- 
diatel;  to  dtspatch  upon  a  tiiird  adventure.  But  the  damjian 
i«qaestedareB|»teaf  twelve  weeks,  for  the  puipoee  irfrecniting 
his  strength ;  and  haTing,  hj  the  mediation  of  his  frienda, 
obtauMd  this  pemiiesion,  repaired  to  the  diamber  of  &ir  Crjsta- 
bd),  to  whom  be  had  much  to  communicate.  The  recital  of  all 
tiiat  be  had  done,  and  of  all  that  he  had  Buffered  rinoe  Atf 
parted,  was  terminated  by  proteatntions  of  uualteraUe  affictioB  on 
Bis  part,  which  we.e  r&4<^oed  by  the  faitii^  Crjstabdl;  bom 
bis  Bucoessliil  periurmanoe  of  the  two  first  feasts  of  anaa  thej 
anticipated  hia  easj  achievement  of  the  third,  which  her  firtber 
bad  promised  to  reward  by  the  gift  of  her  hand ;  thej  considered 
themselves  as  already  united  to  eath  other  by  every  necessair  tie, 
and  insensiblv  began  to  think  that  any  further  reserve  would  bo 
almost  culpable;  so  that,  misled  by  a  train  of  sophistry,  Tery 
usual  in  that  age  of  the  world,  they  bftd  before  morning  inverted 
the  order  of  the  cwemonies  which  oonstitua  a  legal  marriage. 

The  twelve  we^s  of  tranquillity  for  which  E^hunoor  had 
stipulated  were  soon  paised,  and  bis  duty  required  him  to  set  cut 
towards  Rome,  for  the  purpose  of  killing  a  tremendous  dragon 
which  had  long  deaalatea  the  coontrr  round  that  city.  Be  tfaoe- 
Ibre  took  leave  of  his  miBtreea ;  left  her  with  his  tmchanted  ting ; 
eooountered  the  dragm,  and,  snoeessively  cut  off  its  tail,  ita  wings, 
and  its  head ;  but  bSng  severely  wounded  by  his  poisonous  enemy, 
Waa  put  under  the  care  of  Viatdnr,  the  daughter  of  Constaatine, 
then  emperor  of  Borne.  IHie  renudies  adminiEt«red  by  this  ladjr 
at  length  restored  him  to  health ;  but  his  oonvaleeoesce  was  ao 
tedious,  that  when  be  returaed  in  triumph  to  Artois  ha  band 
himsolf  deprived  of  the  best  fruits  of  his  victory. 

The  court,  after  an  interval  of  many  mnBthi^  oonvincod  thBt 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


■IB  KI>U.HOaB  Op  ABTOYI.  S3S 

Sir  ^lamonr  had  periihed  in  hi*  ocmflict  with  th«  dragon,  b^an 
to  flatter  himself  that  hi*  funner  proj«ct«  reipecting  the  eatablish- 
iDsnt  of  the  isir  CiTBtabell  might  yet  be  reiliied,  when  he  heard 
with  equal  raipTize  and  indignation  that  abe  waa  happily  deli- 
Tered  of  a  matt  beautiAil  boy. 

Then  the  earl  made  his  tow  : 
"Paoghter,  unto  the  sea  ahalt  thou, 

la  a  ship,  bj  thee  one : ' 
Thy  ymnge  loa  shall  be  thy  fare, 
Qiriat^idom'  getteth  it  none  here!" 

Her  maidena  wept  aach  one. 

Her  KodMi  iu  awoon  did  lalL 

£lght  ao  did  her  frieodM  ail; 

b«t  JBtooMiion  WBB  frnidaM,  and  the  lovely  CrystabeU  was,  with 

hm  infant  mm,  aJMndoiied  to  the  winds  and  wavea  in  a  vead 

inlfao«t  watiaen.  Nil,  oara,  or  rudder. 

Iha  iiaiwl,  however,  Mama  to  bars  performed  a  voysge  of  n» 
SMtaa^tibla  leo^tli  with  ooniideiable  expedition.  lit  ue  first 
iiMtMinn.  indeed,  it  broMght  her  to  a  eouoby  without  any  human 
inhaVitmtii.  when  ihe  landed,  and  when  a  bird,  which  is  still 
&iiuliarly  known  to  heralds,  and  which  is  called  a  griffin,  earned 
frfTlMrinbnt  ion,  wbewM  enTeloped  in  a  scarlet  mantl^  and  had 
KMBd  hia  waist  a  goMan  girdle.  The  disoansolate  motW  again 
walwrked.  and  after  a  mo«ad  voyage,  during  which,  "as  the 
gtsaJ  kiM  of  SoiM  aVB,"*  aha  was  five  days  without  food,  ar- 
ttmi.  an  Qte  ■hoces  oC  Sigjpi,  was  diacovered  and  conveyed  to  the 
kiag;  and  tit*  said  king  fortunately  turning  out  to  be  her  unole^ 
waa  scM  kinfly  and  bomtably  entertained  during  a  p^iod.  of 
lAont  fifteen  yeara.  In  the  piean  tJme  bar  sen  was  carried  by  the 
into  I«a*l ;  waa  found  by  tbe  king  of  ithat  country,  who 
■  to  be  bunting;  waa  educated  with  great  care  at  his 
aaut,  nnoer  the  name  ori>^p;abeU,Aecau«A«/«tf/rtm(tA«  lal<Mu 
^agrMn;*  and  beoanw  in  poceaa  <^  time  a  moat  Tabrous  and 
aeeeaa^akad  kai^t. 

Te  mnst  now  retnm  to  ^  Eglantoor,  who,  beinff  whole  and 

aonnd,  took  leave  of  tlie  emperor  of  Borne  and  of  his  fair  dai^hter, 

and  tnvidliTw  as  expeditiMsly  as  he  could,  arrived  in  Artoia  with 

his  drageo'a  head,  and  kamt  the  iriutk  extent  of  his  misfortune. 

S^aotour  went  into  the  hall. 

Before  the  aquyers  and  kni^htee  all: 

"  And  tbou,  earl  of  Arteys, 

'bke,"  he  aaid,  "the  dragon's  heved: 

■  nyKlf  slone.        ■  CbrUeaing.        '  11^  pcMge  doM  not  r«Ar  te 

die  Gob  Kamattonm,  imYlSt  wtfpottt,  bat  mtnlj  to  the  greet  bo«k  of 

Ro«Bce,  the  origiB^  at  the  tak.        '  It  mtt  be  left  to  tbs  wculty  of 

tiM  reader  to  tad  otf  the  laa^afe  in  which  tfaa  word  Desrabdl  lua  tUa 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


CM  KABLT  ZSOUSH  XZTSICAI,  KOMAKOBS. 

AB  iinniw  that  hovialercd: 
What  dowt  tbov  in  mj  jdaeer 
On>t  dod  U  ma  to  baar 
Wbea  he  oDed  CiTStabeU  his  fen ; 

*  What,  art  tboa  drowiMd  in  the  awl 
Ood  that  died  on  rood  bitterly, 
On  thr  aonle  have  ■"c^i 

And  on  that  young  <ADd  w  free!" 
'nie  c*ri  irw  m  feaid  of  BriauMiar, 
lliat  be  was  &in  to  tak«  tbe  town; 
That  evermore  woe  him  be! 
To  bedege  him  in  tfaia  citadd  would  bava  oocaoonad  a  koa  of 
nracb  time,  and  E^amoor  wai  anxioiu  to  leare  a  ooaatrj  now 

Ewn  hateful  to  him.  Be  therefore  ordered  all  the  pnuerij  «f 
enonj  to  be  adsed,  dinded  it  amongrt  tbcae  whan  be  btaw 
b>  ba  nnet  tnutj  and  neoeMitovs^  mnrded  other  fiinida  t^  cod- 
Jerring  mi  tbnn  the  order  of  faii^thood;  and  having  oidcfed 
masM  ta  be  mmg  in  ^  the  ohordMs  for  the  aool  of  hia  Cr)»ta 
beO,  departed  for  the  Hi^  Land,  irtiere,  during  fifteen  T*''^  be 
Astingniahed  him— K,  both  in  battle  and  in  toomamatt,  I7  wata 


DmabeU  the  afleotion  of  a  &tber,  became  aniioDB  to  proeoie  a 
wife  for  tiie  joun^  man  whom  be  deadned  to  the  poMeaaton  otbSm 
thrtme;  and  *'jf"'g  that  there  wa^  at  the  ooort  <^  the  king  <i 
Bgjptf  a  ladr  of  inoompmUe  beamtj,  set  aail  for  that  oountrr, 
togirther  with  bis  ad<q>ted  son,  wbtHO  he  had  latdj  invested  with 
the  (vder  of  chiTslrj.  The  king  of  Bgypt  reoeiiW  the  reverend 
monarch  of  Israel  witii  snitable  respect,  suffered  his  niece  to  be 
ezhitHted  to  ber  jatag  snitw,  and  dedaicd  his  *rillingn«H  to 
eonsoit  to  the  match,  after  trjing  the  addroES  of  joung  DecabeO, 
wbrnn  be  invited  to  break  a  spear  with  him  in  the  lists  on  tin  H- 
kwiog  dajr.  The  joong  knignt  readilj  accepted  the  oflor,  over- 
tiuew  his  K>7al  oMtonent,  and  was  scdcannlT  married  to  his  own 
mother.  Bnt  the  nide  having  cast  her  eyes  on  the  shield  of  De- 
^bdi,  who  bwe  a  sriffin  holding  in  its  tabnw  an  inbnt  tn^iped 
m  a  scarlet  mantle,  buret  into  tears,  and  relatiiw  Mr  wbtie  Stofy, 
was  on  the  same  daj  released^rom  her  unnatnM  cngagemoit. 

The  kit^  of  Israel,  however,  seemed  to  think  tEuit  CrTStabdl 
was  too  beautiful  to  remain  any  longer  single,  and  offered  her 
the  dioioe  of  all  bis  knights ;  but  her  son  inmsted  that  those  who 
asfnred  to  the  honour  of  her  hand  should  previoualv  overthrow 
biin  as  be  had  overthrown  the  King  of  ^vpt ;  and  that  ks  Uie 
pnn>°ee  ^aettliiigat  once  the  pretensions  of  a  number  of  candi- 
™«H.  a  tournament  should  be  mtmediatdj  proclaimed  througfaont 
•D_  the  adjoining  coontry.  In  this  pn^ienl  the  two  kings  ao- 
V>MMed;  aod  CTTstsbca  hsml^  wh<Hn  her  mirfoitunes  seam  t» 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BIB  laLAMoun  or  aktots.  fi37 

hiiTB  inipired  with  a  gnat  propeniitj  to  matrimonj',  haniiK 
readilr  aooeded  to  it,  the  touniameitt  wu  umoonoed,  and  atbacM 
to  E^pt  numberieaa  nersane  of  high  Twik;  tmoai/A  i*hom  wmo- 
the  kmg  of  Satjii,  ana  the  long-lotrt  and  almoit  forgotten  Kgla- 
mour,  who  wu  then  retamiug  frgm  his  warfiufl  agaiiut  the 
Heauene. 

The  Teteran  warrior  no  longer  felt  aoUdtooa  to  aoquire  honoor 
m  a  tournament,  and  being  ignorant  that  the  price  (or  which  the 
knights  were  preparing  to  contend  waa  that  Crjwbabtii  for  whom 
he  had  gnffered  so  mnc£,  took  his  stand  near  an  an^^e  of  the  lists, 
and  gorvOTed  the  combatants  tn  perfect  silence,  and  with  ap^ 
rent  indi^erenoe.  Knight  after  kni^t  preaMited  himself  to  <^im 
the  hand  of  the  lady,  bat  all  wtn  suonsssiTely  nnhorsed  by  th* 
nHithfhl  D^rabell,  and  she  would  have  been  left  to  pine  in  celi- 
M<7,  if  her  duunpion,  ashamed  of  a  seriee  of  suoceea,  which  had 
ooBt  him  80  liltie  labonr,  had  not  solicited  the  unknown  knight  to 
break  a  lanoe  with  him.  Gglamour  replied,  that  his  being  there 
was  quite  accidental,  and  that,  bein^  on  hig  return  from  the  KcAj 
Xiand,  he  oonmdered  himself  as  a  privileged  person.  "  If  so,"  said 
D^rabell,  "it  had  been  more  worship  to  thee  to  have  oome  here 
UDarmed,"  Ej^amour,  with  a  smile,  asked  if  he  had  not  jet  had 
justing  enough,  and  added, 

"  That  dajfiUle  have  I  seen. 

With  as  big  men  have  I  been. 

And  jet  well  gone  mr  waj. 

And  jet,  forsooth,  said  he  tluui, 

I  will  do  as  well  as  I  can 

With  thee  once  to  pbj." 

With  these  words  he  turned  his  none,  took  his  distance,  and 
choiginf  the  jonth  with  irresistible  impetaoaitj,  threw  him  out  of 
his  Bad&  to  the  earth. 

CrjBtabell,  who  had  witnessed  her  son's  overthrow,  and  for 
aome  moments  was  eren  alarmed  for  his  life,  sarrejea  his  oon- 
queror  with  trembling  curiodtj.  On  his  shield  was  painted  a 
rude  representation  of  the  event  which  he  had  long  deplored ;  a 
ship  of  gold,  containing  a  ladj  imd  an  inliint,  and  surronnded  by 
waves  which  "were  made  both  grim  and  bold,"  as  on  the  point 
of  overwhelming  the  unfortunate  vessel  These  armorial  bear- 
ings, however,  might  perhape  be  the  effect  of  accident,  and  she 
oould  not  venture,  on  such  groonds,  to  indulge  the  verj  impro- 
baUe  hope  which  the  mjBteriouB  derice  so  naturallj  suggested. 
When  he  waa  disarmed,  and  seated  at  table  bj  her  side,  nis  air 
and  voice,  though  much  altered,  gave  her  confidence  in  her  ex- 
pectations, and  his  answers  to  her  qnestioDS  follj  confirmed  them. 
She  swooned  with  joj,  and  Eglamour  would  not  have  &iled  to 
do  the  smae,  but  that  it  was  necessaij  to  receive  in  his  arms  hi* 
beloTed  CijiiUbell.    All  the  noble  gu«ats  shared  the  joj  of  the 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


XASLT  MMQLUM  IfKTKIC^I.  BOKASCES. 


fciUfiil  and  htipfj  ooaple,  tod  ^^  ■ooomplithri  ■»,  fir  wbon 
Ite  gM)d  king  *»  Iinat  was  stiQ  as  ukxioni  u  ercz  t»  pi»- 
flua  a  niiUbU  wib,  reoeived  Um  hand  of  the  baautifiil  Arduwta, 
da^htM  ofthakingof  SatjiL  who  waa  thu  rewarded  for  a  ooo- 
ataBCT  of  iftaaa  jaan  to  hw  dd  delivers  bj  obtaimDc  a  jounger 
'        -efiuoily.    It  waa  reiolTed  that  both  «    "" 


VfOfmaj  uunadiatelj  embarked,  aad  the  wu^ed  mi^  bavins 
IH7  pToridmtiaU;  broken  his  neck  hj  ialliiiK  from  hia  tow—  on 
tiM  di^  <^  tbeiT  aniTal,  the  nuptiala  of  Uw  father  and  at 


oolelmted  with  )uieuui^>lBd  feativitj  in  tb«  prMonco  of  Um  kjoga 
of  land  amd  Kgfpt,  and  1^  the  Bmperor  "^nfrtantiiw.  iri»  bac- 
Uned  frtna  Boaoe  at  the  Bunmoaa  of  hii  anaient  bwCTBictot. 


LAY  LB  PRAINE. 


ni*  taeitnt  aul  eimoat  tittle  poem,  tr«iw1rt«J  fhom  the  'Wr^A  at 
Marie,  Ii  prenrred  in  Uie  Anchinleck  HS.  It  m  onetibtad  ia  two  flatm, 
and  urenti  the  coDclanoii ;  thae  defecta,  bmrenr,  ere  DnimpoTtult  wiUi 
napect  to  the  wtarj,  whiek  I  baie  lapptied  frani  the  Frencfa.  In  point  of 
bngoBgt  mi  Ten^catJoB  it  la*  nore  merit  thin  any  poem  of  tii«  *erj 
earljr  period  at  which  it  waa  writtCB,  and  doei  -  -  • 
with  Marie'a  oiigioaL 


Thi  airtbor  begins  hia  prologae  bj  obaui  ting,  that  in  aacanit 
times,  lAn.  intended  to  be  aeoompaaied  by  Um  luurp,  were  oom- 
poied  OD  all  sorts  of  subjects. 

Some  beth '  (^  war,  and  some  of  woe ; 

And  some  of  jay  aad  mirth  also; 

And  some  of  treachery  and  of  guile; 

Of  (M  aTentnres  that  fell  ere  while; 

And  some  of  bonrdea'  and  ribaadj;* 

And  many  there  beth  (rf  fairy : 

Of  all  thingea  that  men  seth, 

Moat  of  love,  forsooth,  there  both. 

In  Brrktjne,  bj  old  time, 
IT   .r.      ■  P*^^  ^^  "^^  °*^ ;  "  '^7^^  ^"  rhj»o,  Ae. 
He  Uien  mfbrnu  na,  that  the  Brettnis  neyer  foiled  of  cmTerthur 
into  lays  all  the  anecdotes  which  thej  thouKht  worth  ooosii    " 
to  nwnwry  and  that  the  following  was  tinu  oorapowd  andi 
Uy  le  Frame  (firfee),  w  «The  AdT^tuw  of  the  aX" 

'  Are.  •  Jerti.  a  Pmffl^cx. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


LAY   LE  TKhlXS. 


Ib  tiie  "  West  ootmtm"  Ured  two  knighti,  both  mm  of  o^pn- 
lenca,  who  had  been  tnende  from  their  in&noj',  uid  had  nuuTud 
atmit  tiie  mse  time.  One  of  the  ladies  heoums  pregnant,  and 
ftfter  tiie  osoal  time  wu  dcliTered  of  two  boyi ;  an  errat  vhiA 
her  haalMDd  thoo^t  of  mffioient  in^toiteDM  to  anaoimoe  to  hia 


«  fbcter-tether  to  Uio  ^Udrsn  of  the  other. 

%  tlMreftra  railed  m  mewcngor,  and  dcqtatcbed  him  to  bis  nngh- 
Immt  witlt  the  intelUgonoe. 

ISie  meeMngef  goth,  and  hatii  nought  fngete, 

And  findoth  the  kiught  at  hii  mete ; 

And  &ir  he  gnt,  ia  the  hall, 

73ie  krd,  tbe  lercdii,  the  nujvi  all ; 

And  nth  then,  on  Dees  down  him  lei, 

And  the  k«d  Aill  &ir  he  grei 
"He  bade  that  thou  dtonld  to  him  t^ 

And,  for  lov&  hia  goaaibfae'  be." 
"Is  Ua  leredi  ddiwed  with  mmitr* 


"  Tw»r  Mnes,  nr,  Ood  hem  aave  I" 
The  kni^  therof  wia  glad  and  UHho, 
And  Utuked  Qodee  sonde  Hwithe, 
And  granted  hit  enand  in  all  UiiJig, 
And  gaf  ^™  a  palAaT  for  hia  tiding 

Then  «M  the  l»d7  of  the  boMN 
A  Hoad  dame,  and  malMou, 
Hoker-fnll,  kbe  n' 


Sqaeameaa,  and  eke  eoomiu. 
To  icbe  wttman  ahe  had  enTiei 


Sm  lyake  these  WMd*  of  f^iMkie.* 
"Idh  have  wonder,  than  mvaeogei^ 
Who  was  i^j  lordaa  oonseillor, 
To  te*eh  him  ^lout  to  send, 
And  tell  shame  in  iehe  sn  wd,' 
That  his  wife  hath  tway  duldren  y-hcve  I 
Wdl  inaj  idle  man  wite  tberfore 
That  twav  men  her  h«n  hadde  in  bower: 
3%Kt  ia  hii  both  f^onoot!" 
.  .  >  messenger  was  soielr  abashed  b;  tikoae  unexpected  and 

S'oet  refloolionB  od  hia  miBtnn ;  the  huabejid  reprimanded  his 
9  Tei7  severely  for  the  intamperanoe  of  her  tongne ;  and  all  tJu 
woom  of  the  eoontrj,  amongst  whom  the  story  was  rapidly  cir- 

GoMtp,  god-htber.  ■  Ualtk,  nCetf.  ■  Yotcidaj. 

Poll  of  frowudaoi,  Hch  Dia-wjing  or  rarUiiig.        '  Wickedness. 

*  Each  in  end,  i.  >.,  in  enn  qvaita. 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


KAKLT    EXai-lSS    KETBICJU,    KOHUrCKS. 


r,  ftnd  that  her  caluinnj 
«D  all  prolifio  mothen  might  receive  tome  ngnal  and  dreadfnl 
pniuBbment. 

Whether  the  pnjera  of  these  pioos  mstroni  were  ss  efficadoos 
8S  their  aager  vu  lincere,  or  whether  some  other  causes  maj  have 
oontribotea  to  the  eTent,  the  ladr  did  shortly  after  proTe  with 
child,  and  brought  into  tiie  world  two  daoghiera.  Ttie  cireom- 
•tance  certsinlT  was  verj  untoward,  and  the  haughty  dame  fait  it 
niDBt  poiznantlj.  She  waa  now  reduced  to  the  alternative  of 
avowing  nenielf  guiltj  of  a  calumny  against  her  innooeut  ncigh- 
buuT,  or  of  imputing  to  herself,  in  common  with  the  other,  the 
crime  of  adultery,  of  which  she  had  not  been  guilty ;  unless  she 
could  contrive  to  remove  one  of  the  twins  who  had  introduced 
themselves  into  the  world  through  her  intervention,  but  in  direct 
opposition  to  her  wishes  and  interest.  The  project  of  destroying 
har  own  child  was,  at  first,  rejected  with  horror ;  but  after  revolT- 
ing  the  subject  in  her  mind,  and  canvassing  with  great  lo^cal 
aeutene«B  the  objections  to  this  atrocious  measure,  she  detemuned 
to  adopt  it,  bscause  she  could  ultimately  cleanse  herself  from  the 
sin,  by  doing  private  penance,  and  obtaining  priestlj  absolution. 

Ilaviug  thus  removed  her  scruples,  she  called  the  midwife,  and 
directed  her  to  destroy  one  of  the  infiuita,  and  to  declare  that  one 
only  had  been  bora.  But  the  midwife,  who  claimed  no  inconsider- 
able share  in  the  ^ot;  of  adding  to  the  nutnber  of  human  beings 
by  the  birth  of  twins,  would  not  consent  to  mutilate  her  own  fune 


and  supple  agent.  She  had  a  maid,  whom  she  had  educated  in 
her  family,  to  whom  she  imparted  her  diffioulties,  and  this  coo- 
fidential  counsellor  at  once  proposed  a  contrivance  for  removing 
them.  "  Oive  me  the  chil^"  said  she,  "  and  be  sssured  that, 
without  destroying  it,  I  will  so  remove  it  that  it  shall  never  give 
yon  any  further  trouble.  There  are  many  religious  houses  in  the 
neighbourhood,  whose  inhabitants  cannot  be  better  employed  than 
in  nursing  and  educating  orphan  children.  I  will  take  care  that 
your  inhnt  shaU  be  discovered  by  some  of  these  good  people,  under 
whose  care,  by  the  blessing  of  Providence,  it  wiu  thrive  and  pros- 
per ;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  I  will  take  such  means  that  its  health 
shall  not  suffer.  Dismiss  your  sorrow,  therefore,  and  trust  in  my 
discretion."  The  lady  was  ovejjoyed,  and  accepted  the  offer  with 
assurances  of  eternal  gratitude. 

As  it  was  her  wish  that  those  who  should  find  the  child  might 
know  that  it  was  bom  of  noble  parents, 
She  took  a  rich  bauoekine,' 
That  her  lord  brought  from  Constantine,' 

'  A  rich  msntle  lined  with  fiir.  ■  CouiCantiiiopIe. 


j,,..;uL,  Cookie 


LAT    IE  rSAIKZ. 

And  Iwwd  the  little  maiden  thenin ; 

And  tooK  a  rina  of  gold  fine, 

And  on  her  right  arm  it  knit, 

With  &  l&ce  of  ailk  in  plit.> 

The  maid  took  the  child  her  mid,' 

And  stale  a,yia,y  in  an  even  tide, 

And  passed  over  a  irild  heath ; 

Thorough  field  and  thorough  wood  ahe  geth,* 

All  the  winter-lone  night. 

The  weather  was  ^ear,  the  moon  was  li^t; 

80  that  she  com  bj  a  forest  side. 

She  woz'  all  weary,  and  gan  abide. 

Soon  after  she  gan  beark, 

Cockea  crow,  and  dogs  bark ; 

She  arose,  and  thither  wold ; 

Near  and  nearer  she  gan  behold 

Walls  and  houses  fele  she  seigh ; 

A  church,  with  steeple  bir  and  high ; 

Then  n'aa  there  nother  street  no  town. 

But  an  house  of  religion  j 

An  order  of  nuns,  well  j-dight. 

To  serry  Qod  both  daj  and  night. 

The  maiden  abode  no  lengore,'' 

But  jede  her  to  the  churdie  door, 

And  on  knees  she  sat  her  down. 

And  said,  weepand,  her  orisoun. 

"0  Lord,"  snc  said,  "  Jeeu  Christ, 
That  tdnfiil  mannes  bedes°  hearst, 
Cnderfong'  this  preHent, 
And  help  this  sell*  innocent. 
That  it  mote  j-ohristened  be, 
For  Marie  We,  thy  mother  free !" 

She  looked  np,  and  bj  her  scigh 
An  ascbe,  by  her,  fair  and  hi^h, 
Veil  y-bon^ed,  of  mickle  price ; 
The  body  was  hollow,  as  many  one  is. 
Therein  she  Uid  the  child,  for  oold, 
In  the  pel',  as  it  was,  brfold,'* 
And  blessed  it  with  all  her  might. 
With  that  it  gan  to  dawe  light. 
The  ibwles  np,  and  sung  on  bough. 
And  aore-men"  jede  to  the  plough, 
Th6  maiden  turned  i^ain  anon, 
And  took  the  way  she  had  ere  gon. 
'  nti(ed,ti>irted.  ■With.  *  Goeth.  •  Wi 

LoDger.  *  ftajtn.  '  ReeefrB.  ■  Kmple; 

*  Wn,  *  Folded.  ■  Plon^ 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


LT   KXOLISH  MeXKICAI.   KOHAJtCES. 


mg  tbebdk,  and  tapen  li^t, 

id  flvtb  bodka,  uid  aU  K«d  j  dight 


«  pd  liggen  in  the  tnt, 

id  tbaaght  w«U  that  it  mi^  b^ 

At  tlu«T(s  had  7-nibbed  tone  iAm% 

>d  gene  tben-foath,  and  left  it  (Item. 

lereto  he  yede,  and  it  mtwooitd, 

td  tte  muden  child  thereiii  he  faond. 

!  toe*  it  ap  bet« 

Hi  thoDlted  Jan 

id  hoiDe  to  his  boose  be  it  famui^t, 

>d  took  it  hia  dai^tar,  and  bei  Mon^t 

lat  dtedtould  ke^it  aadiftaan, 

r  die  waa  melehe',  and  ooathe  than. 

e  bMie  it  endt,  and  it  n'old, 

r  it  ma  nigh  dead  tar  oold. 

Anon  a  fire  die  a-light, 

id  wanned  it  wdl,  aplit^;' 

e  gave  it  mek  npon  na  bann,* 


And  when  tbe  maM  was  7-done^ 
<n  ports-  to  tbe  abbene  com  fliU  mnb. 
anme,  wliat  rede  jc  of  thia  tUngt 
i-da/,  right  in  the  monui^ 
on  after  tbe  trat  itound,* 
Sttk  maiden-duld  icb  fbimd 
the  hoOow  adi  then  oat; 
id  a  pd  ber  about ; 
ring  of  gold  ako  waa  tha«; 
nr  it  com  diitber  I  n'ot  ne'er." 
«  abheeee  was  a-wondned  of  tbii  \iaBg. 
>,"  (he  said,  "oa  hjii^,* 
id  fetcii  it  hither,  1  pray  tl^e; 
is  welcome  to  Qod  and  in& 
b  win  it  helptn  as  I  can, 
id  segge  it  is  mj  kinswoman.'* 
ic  p«rter  anon  it  ||an  forth  bris^ 
ith  the  pd,  and  with  the  ring. 
IC  abbease  let  depe  a  priest  anon, 
id  kt  it  be  dliristen  in  foneboiL 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


And,  for  it  iru  in  an  ash  T-fbond, 
gheol^pedit  Fnin  in  that  sUMmd, 
The  name  of  tiie  aah  ia  a  frain,' 
After  the  language  rf  K'etayn; 
Vaiihjj*  Le  f^ain  mm  depeth  thi>  taj, 
More  uian  ash^  in  eooh  eonntr^. 
'  This  Frain  UiiiTed  firom  yew  to  yam ; 
The  abbcta'  nieoe  men  weend  it  weie. 
The  abbew  her  gan  taadi,  and  held.* 
B;  that  the  was  twelre  irinter  aid. 
In  all  Englond  there  n'as  none 
A  fidrer  maiden  than  the  waa  one. 
And  vhen  she  contbe  onght  of  maul 
EDie  bade  the  abbAse  her  wiase'  and  rede, 
Whioh  were  her  kin,  one  rar  other, 
Father  or  motbo-,  aister  or  brotlMi^ 
The  abbeaie  bar  in  oonneil  took, 
To  tellm  her  she  noo^  finaook. 
Hot  she  was  foundan  in  all  Uiii^; 
And  took  her  the  doth  and  the  rtag, 
And  bade  her  keep  it  in  that  atede ; 
And,  therwfailM  she  lived,  ao  ibe  did. 

31ien  waa  there,  in  Aat  oontr^, 
A  rich  kniritt  of  land  and  fM^ 
Pnud,  aiMfoang,  and  joBi^ 
And  had  nc^it  jet  y-weddod  wib. 
Be  waa  atoat,  of  great  renown, 
And  mi  y-<MpM  Sir  Onroun. 
He  heard  priiae  that  maiden  tne, 
And  said  he  ironld  her  lee. 
He  dight  him  la  the  my  anon, 
And  idliflidi  thither  is  gOBC^ 
And  Mde  hi*  man  s^ge,  verament, 
He  ihoold  toward  *  tumamentL 
The  abbtaie,  and  Ute  nonnei  all 
Fair  hi»  givtte  in  the  goest-hall ; 
And  daiuel  Frain,  ao  fur  of  moath, 
Orette  him  &iT|  as  (he  well  oonth. 
And  fwithe  weU  he  gi 
Hv  iemblaant,  ai 

Her  tovaaome  eyvn,  h  ^    . 

And  ooraraencvd  to  love  her  aoon-nght; 


eU  he  gan  deviae 
t,  and  ner  gentrise, 
ey«n,  her  rode*  so  bright, 


'  In  fte  MS.  it  ti  "fitym,"  irtdck  1  pnmne  ii  a  miitake  of  As 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


K1U.T   EXCLISK   METBICiU.  SOIUIICKS. 

And  tliou^t  how  he  mi^t  Uka  <k^ 

To  hkTe  her  for  his  ^■"B" 
He  thought,  "  Qif  ich  eune  her  to 

More  than  ich  hare  j-do, 

Sw  abbrnw  will  aoucfaj'  guile, 

And  wide'  her  in  a  little  white." 

He  eompast  another  sndieaQiui  f 

To  be  brother  of  that  religioD. 
"Madame,"  be  said  to  the  abbesM^ 
"  l-loTi'  wde,  in  all  goodneai, 

ItSx  win  gin  one  and  ether 

Lond»  and  rents,  to  become  70111  Iwother,* 

That  je  shall  ever  fare  the  b^* 
When  I  conte  to  have  raoeL") 

At  few  wordis  thev  beu  at  one,* 
He  graithea  hin^  and  forth  is  gone. 
Oft  ae  com,  bj  day  and  iu^l> 
To  meak  with  that  ■"«■*»"  bnght; 
80  that,  with  bia  &ir  behest,* 
And  with  bis  ^cein^  at  leet 
ate  granted  bun  to  don  his  wSI, 
When  be  will,  loud  and  aHO. 
"Iiem»n,"he  said,  "thou  most  let  be 
The  abbesM  thv  nieoe,  *  and  go  witb  me. 
PiK-  id)  am  ricbe,  of  swicb  poweie, 
T«  finde  bet  than  thou  baat  hcR." 
Hw  m^ifjpn  grant,  and  him  trist, 
And  stole  away,  that  no  nan  wist ; 
Witb  her  took  ^le  no  thing 
Bat  bet  pel,  and  ber  ring. 
When  the  abbesae  ^n  ai 


That  she  wag  with  tlM  knif^it  owr," 
She  made  moumii^  in  her  tbon^t. 
And  her  bemeut,"  and  pined  noo^it. 


Thatai 

To  rich  and  poor  she  gan  her  dna^ 
l%at  all  her  kiTed  moie  and  ksB ;. 
And  thn*  die  led  with  him  ber  lUiL 
Ri^t  as  dte  had  betai  hia  wedded  wife. 
Hia  km^tea  ttMD,  and  to  him  speke, 
And  hokj  omicfa  oommandetii  eke, 

*  Saipcct.  (A.  N.)        ■  Toil,  carry  awaj.        *  Fiiii         • 

'Oftheauaen^kiufrBtaRiin.  ■  Battn 

*  Lodpag,  (bodB.      •Agreed.      •  ProiMe.      ■•ItdMldbe 

"Aw^.iylhMlr^ia.  nBoMaaed. 


J  L,  Google 


IiAT  XE  FBAlItE.  549 

Some  lordia  dui^ter  &r  to  ta^ 

And  his  lem&n  all  forsake. 

And  Raid,  him  were  well  more  ftir, 

In  wedlock  to  ^ten  him  an  heir, 

Than  lead  his  life  with  swiche  one, 

Of  whoM  kin  he  knewe  none. 

And  aaid.  "Here  bendei^  is  a  kni^t, 

That  hath  a  daa^t«r  &ir  and  Imj^t, 

That  shall  beax  hu  heritage; 

lUeth  her  in  marriage  r 

Loth  him  was  that  deed  to  do, 

Ac,  at  last,  he  granted  thereto. 
The  forward' was  j-maked  Might, 

And  were  at  one,  and  truth  plight 

Alias]  that  he  no  had  7-wit, 

Ere  the  forward  were  ^r-smitl 

That  she,  and  his  leman  also, 

Sistren  were,  and  twinnes  twot 

Of  a  hiher  b^eten  they  were, 

Of  a  mother  bom  y-fere :' 

That  hi'  so  were  ue  wist  none, 

For  tooth  I  aa^,  but  God  alone. 

The  new  bnde  WM  grwthed  with  al), 

And  brought  home  to  the  lordis  hall. 

Her  fiUher  com  with  her  bIm, 

The  leredi  ber  mother,  and  other  mo. 

The  bishop  of  the  londl  withonten  &i), 

Come  to  do  the  spousail. 

The  jonng  rival  of  Le  Frain  waa  distiugiiiihed,  like  faer  siater, 

S'  a  sylTan  ^tpellaticm :  her  name  waa  Lt  Codre  (oorylns,  t]je 
bert),  and  the  knight's  tenants  had  sagadouBly  drawn  a  mM* 
&TOanUe  proguostio  of  hii  fatnre  happiness  from  the  snperioritj 
of  nnts  to  Tile  aah-k^s;  Irat  neither  the  knight  tiimtaTf  nor  anj 
of  his  hensebold,  were  disposed  to  angnr  bvonraUj  of  a  marriage 
w^iichtendedtodnaivethemoftheamisbleorphan.  Thefeastwaa 
magnifieent,  but  dull ;  and  never  were  apparant  rqoicings  more 
comnletel;  marred  bj  a  general  feeling  of  constmnt  and  fonnalitj, 
Le  Frain  alone,  concealing  the  nief  which  preyed  on  her  hearty 
was  all  seal  and  aotivitj;  and,!)]'  her  nnceaaing  attentions,  con- 
ciliated the  pit;  and  eeteem  of  the  bride,  «nd  even^  her  motber, 
who  bad  hitberto  felt  tbe  nbnoit  anxietj  to  procore  the  dismiwai 
of  this  formidaUe  rinJ.  At  the  oondnsion  of  the  banqoet,  she 
emp)<7ad  herself  with  the  utmost  care,  in  the  decoration  of  the 
bridal  duumber;  and,  havii^  observed  that  the  covering  of  tiie 

•  C«ntnMt>  ■  Together.  '  IVy,  Sax. 

Sir 

D,j„..;uL,  Cookie 


Mb  EA.KLT  SHOLTflH  MXTBIC1.L  BOHARCES. 

bed  wu  not  suffieinitlf  ootttj,  spread  over  it  -Um  maffnifioent 
nuLntle  which  she  hkd  reoeired  from  the  &bbe«,  and  had  hitherto 
praterred  with  the  utmoit  Bolidtade.  She  had  tokrcel?  left  the 
room,  when  the  bride  entered  it,  kceatnpwriied  bj  hei  mother,  who 
CMting  her  ejm  on  thai  Eplendid  mintle,  varTe7«d  it  with  fe^iufiH 
of  the  most  poigBAnt  nmone,  and  imnediKtel;  Teot^nized  the 
taetimonj  of  hei  crime.  Sw  qaetUoned  the  ehsmberkinB,  who 
wen  unable  to  exnUin  the  ^tpeannoe  of  an  onuonent  which  thej' 
bad  never  before  beheld;  the  tiien  tnterrogated  Le  Frain,  and^  at 
the  end  of  a  short  eraroinafain  fen  into  a  swoon;  excl^mmg, 
"Fair  child!  thou  art  mj  dmghter!"  Her  htufaand  was  then 
tummoned,  and  ehe  oonfeaeed  to  him  with  tesrs,  and  with  eveir 
ezpresaion  of  penitenoej  tlu  einfiil  act  whtdi  die  had  committed, 
and  the  providendal  duoorerj  of  her  daughter  hj  means  of  the 
mantle  and  of  the  ring,  both  of  which,  being  pTesents  &om  him~ 
sel^  were  perfectlj^  fomiHar  to  his  recollection.  The  knicht  cm- 
braiied  his  child  with  t^e  atmost  tendemeas,  and  prevBiled  on  the 
bishop  to  disKlve  the  marriage,  which  was  not  yet  conaommated, 
and  to  unite  their  son-in-law  to  the  original  object  of  his  afFbc- 
tions.  The  other  sister  was  shortlj  after  bestowed  on  another 
neighbouriug  lord,  and  the  adventures  of  Le  Prain  and  Le  Codro 
were  formed  into  a  Uf,  which,  as  we  have  Been,  leceived  its  name 
from  the  forBW. 


SIB.  EOER,  BOt  ORAHAHB,  &  sm  ORAY-STEEL. 

nU  ronunce  is  by  no  mesni  ilEfideiit  jn  merit ;  bat  I  do  not  laair  of 
it*  existence  in  a  perfect  stats,  mther  la  MG.  or  in  print,  imleu  it  be  pre- 
samd  entire  in  Biihap  Feccy'i  Iblio.  It  was  printed  (perhipi  it  Aber- 
Aeen)  in  1711,  >ad  fram  a  copy  of  thia  date,  in  tbe  )>oa>esdoD  of  Wr- 
Doace,  the  following  abstract  ii  taken.  Bat  the  printer  hu  evidently 
fallowed  *  rery  imperfect  MS.  with  which  ilw  he  leema  to  hare  taliai 
great  libertiet ;  and  the  itorj,  ai  it  now  standi,  ii  so  otncBrelf  told,  diat 
tiie  eataaiTopha  i*  qnitn  imiiitdligiblc,  and  has  been,  in  tbe  prteeat 
abstract,  lui^lied  by  oanjectnra. 

That  It  wu  eitMielr  popolir  in  the  auij  part  of  tin  siiteeBUi  emtniy, 
Is  ertdcnt  hum  thewaaner  In  wUcb  it  is  metiUeaed  in  the  "  Ctmpl^/nl 
^BtoUmti,"  first  pnblished  in  IMBi  and  tbe  reader  will  find  all  tlia 
teformalian  whiA  can  new  be  coUeoted  reapsctiag  it,  in  Lejdm'a 
Talotble  editioD  at  ttatt  wolfc,  pp.  S31,  273,  kA  in  Sir  W.  Soott'a  Sir 
Triatrem,  p.  zB?.  — ■ 

In  tbe  kingdom  of  Bealm'  lived  a  .pow«rfiiI  earl  whose  name  was 

T^  name  of  this  kingdom  ts  pmbaUy  a  corrapUon  of  Bdiemla. 
Ellia  thougbt  otberwiie  on  the  improtiable  anppositiDn  that  by  Oailit 
the  aathor  meant  Gillbwar. 


j„.„_,  Cookie 


SIB  esse;  ns  ssi.hahe.  Aim  bik  G&AY-arEEL.     S4? 


Kge^  and  who  Ind  an  obIj  dan^iter,  erf'  inMmpanble  be&at]', 
lumied  Winliane.  The  rnu%  1m7,  wImm  it  wm  slnwat  impos- 
d)^  to  behdd  with  indmenMee,  WW,  ntfaer  nafoiiuoatelr  for  her 


tmmerouB  admirei^  of  a  ooU  and  '"*»"*^  qharaeter.  Hftving 
obaerved  Uut  militcir  pi>wwi  wu  Ae  qnliSoation  wbi<^  a(- 
tnoted  genend  <«tMwi,  ibe  Madodedthst  Ben  -were  formed  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  fi^tinK;  and  thMrfaw  frutkly  informed  her 
parents  tbat  she  vm  perfsottr  ewelen  aboattke  iwk,  «  wealth, 
•raae.«rtanps,  «r  figan  «f  her  bnaband;  sad  tiiat  even  her 
tar  pdtefsal  authority  wonU  not  be  vofficieKt  to  todom 
.  taaoe  of  »  partB^  foe  life,  bec«Me  tbe  poeseMion  of  bw 
pecUBin%  in  her  emnataen,  tbenatoral  richt  of  &e  ibim  wIio 
ifaDiild  be  able  to  vriu  her  fr«m  a  boet  «f  rivau. 

In  fWMfuwTWi  of  thcM  opiniao^  tbe  fiur  Winfiane  oentimieS 
IsngwnMnied.  Haditebeen  ooBtentedtoiMdetfthededriai 
of  a  ma^  tounaiDen^  tbe  aattw  ni^  have  hum  fmllrniiMlnfl  ; 


JSm  tkaoifiam  obtained  euaDeBnTe^  tite  Immop  of  reMTiug 
BHfei  of  eaaapfaMenc^  from  ^  beaati&l  ooontMi^  Mid  werene- 
ewwrely  oUiMoted  from  her  raenarr  by  «Mie  etordy  or  mere 
forbinate  advermries;  but  at  length,  a  ^eoag kaiffht,  named  Bli 
Sger,  haviuff  aecraired  a  deeided  ■nperiont'r  ever  afi  bit  eompett- 
tm,  aeemed  to  have  fixed  bet  inoMUtant  isclinatiDDB.  He  wiB 
UeNed  with  tiie  prcmiae  of  her  band;  aad  her  choice  Mng  ta.- 
tramolf  aooeptaUe  to  hei  paranU,  prepaiataom  weie  made  for  the 
eari^  oelal»alion  of  their  niqttialB. 

^%er,  thai  fortunate  in  his  lov.,    ._    

ship.  He  had  a  Wcdwr  in  amis,  tbe  yannc  and  aeoaBpliriied  Sir 
"— *■ —  — "■-  — '*-"--— '■"-Tfflit  to  iwpo&r  if-' ^■'- 


r  Bs«r,  thai  fortunate  in  his  love,  was  not  len  Bs  HI  his  fiienl- 
.    Heliada'      •      ■  ■ 

Uve  for  the  ede  jraipaae  ofeetahliiJifi*^  be^uMf  oon^tation, 
■operiod^  of  his  eompanion.    These  jonng  bemtee  vrare  n 


bo,  nerfeeilf  indifierent  to  popobr  MUnse,  « 
e  sole  jMurpoae  of  eetahlidrtpg,  beymM  con^etj 


nperiod^  of  h«  eompanum.  These  jonng  .  ._ 
pMaUe;tiu7iiihabited  the  same  apaitmeut;  tkcrooii 
ts  «ub  other  all  tbdr  prctjeots  and  wishes ;  and  Sir  Qrabam  was 
MtH>ekast  irepatJMit  ofthe  twofortheaCTiv«lrfO>eday,whiJt 
idiMiU  .unite  Sir  Eger  to  his  Winliwa.  But  theTonnglonrvru 
unfoitiinat^  too  mntii  in  love.  Acoutaned  to  Mspeet  all  die 
«^nioBi  and  capBoes  ofhii  hanght^  mistress,  be  peraoaded  bim- 
Bitf  that  his  valinr  was  not  yet  soffieisntlj  rignalbwd ;  and  havinff 
heard  of  a  perilous  adveatnie,  wbidi  he  rI^  tx^  to  aoeorai^i^ 
before  the  oonolnaen  ot  bis  marri^e,  rashly  leeolndto  undertake 
it,  aetwiihstanding  the  mae  Temonsbwraee  of  &r  Onhatn,  to 
wiwoi  alooe  he  had  confided  his  project. 

And  he  went  forth,  him  alone, 

And  all  vanquidit  came  fae  home, 

In  bis  dtsmber,  upon  a  night, 

Wennded  -sore,  and  evil  di^t. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


048  KAKLT  BMaiTSH  MBTBICAL  KOMAXCXS. 

Bif  knife  wu  tint.'  hi«  ihekth  wm  te'ei^ 
Hii  waWd  from  bi*  tUgh  wu  gane. 
He  hid  mowoonda  witii  twiai  and  knifs 
TluiD  erer  mui  that  had  hia  life. 
A  tmndwon  of  his  ncM- be  ban 
To  lean  him  oa ;  Im  had  na  mare. 
On  lib  l>ed-tfda  be  wte  bim  down, 
He  groaned  mn,  and  Ml  in  loirn. 
St  Qraham,  Itavinff  wiA  aome  difficulty  reabned  him  to  hie 
■enata,  endeaToared,  rat  withoat  nioceM,  tooDnadetum  under  hia 
miafortane.    "Talk  not  to  me  of  comfort,"  azolaimed  Sir  Sgst. 
"ainoe  mr  mlatraaa  ia  loat  to  me  for  ever.    I  am  vinqniAed  and 
diigraced ;  vanqni^ked  in  eqnal  oombat  bj  a  ain^  Imight.    Mj 
armour,  aa  mi  know,  waa  excellent;  it  i«  thu  nerrdeaa  am 
which  haa  failed  me :  I  aball  we  the  lovely  Winliane  bestowed  tm 
■ome  mote  cautioua  knight,  who  baa  remained  at  home  while  I 
waa  haateniiu  to  defeat  and  inhmy ;  and  I  have  deaerved  to  endure 
the  miaery  of  auoh  a  light."    Sir  Qraham  thongbt  it  uaekee  to 
argue  any  ftirther  till  he  thouldhave  learned  aUthecircuinetaiiaea 
ofbia  friend'a  adventure ;  he  therefore  remained  silent,  while  Sr 
JEnr  puraued  hia  narration. 

"I  wai  forewarned  by  a  traveller  whom  I  met  by  accident  on 
my  road,  and  who  dirwAed  me  to  tne  territoriea  of  my  adverniy, 
tliat  to  (ubdne  the  redoubtable  Qray-eteel  waa  no  easy  enteniriae ; 
but  I  reaolved  to  peraevere,  and  to  enter  the  '  land  of  doubt,'  ao 
called  fhin  the  number  of  knighta  whom  thia  obam^on  haa  ano- 
oenively  deatroyed.  Having  paased  over  a  apaoooe  moor,  bordered 
bj  lofty  roouutaina,  I  arrived  on  the  banks  of  a  deep  liver ;  an^ 
having  diuMvered  a  ford  wbiob  had  been  described  to  me^  oontinued 
my  journey  throufih  a  foreet  which  encircled  the  forbidden  land. 
Before  I  could  reach  the  plain  I  heard  a  oonfiued  sound,  aa  of 
bonea'  foot.  My  steed  itopped,  erected  hi<  eaia,  and  prepaied  to 
ruih  forward.  I  raised  my  eyes  and  saw  a  knight  in  red  armour, 
and  mounted  on  a  bay  hone,  advancing  at  fiill  speed  towards  me ; 
I  (purred  to  meet  him,  and  my  ipear  waa  so  well  directed  that  its 
point  atruok  him  in  the  middle  of  the  brMat;  bnt  the  ebaA 
shivered  in  my  handa,  whilst  hia  spear  paaaed  through  roy  shield, 
throogh  the  whole  of  my  armour,  and  uu«ngb  part  of  my  body. 
Tet  I  sate  in  the  saddle.    We  wheeled,  and  at  the  leoond  enooiui' 

'  "  ^~  "' "^  ' 'ekly  aa  I  oould,  but  bis 

mtage:  he  overthrew  me 
i.  Having  at  length  re- 
ooverea  my  lege,  i  uiew  my  sworo,  niahed  to  meet  him,  aimed 
at  him  a  mow  in  which  I  exerted  all  my  strength.  I  miMcd  his 
person,  but  cut  through  his  spear  and  killed  his  horse.  We  now 
met  again  on  equal  ternui  but  my  sword  aeemed  to  strike  on 
'  Dijger. 


lei  1  BBie  m  uie  saaai&  *re  wneueo,  ana  at 
ter  he  slew  my  horM.  I  roee  as  quickly  a 
aotive  courser  gave  him  a^ain  the  advantage 
and  trampled  me  under  his  horn's  feet.    Ha 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BIB  BQEX,  BIB  G&^HAXE,  XSD  SIB  aS&T-STEKL.       549 

adamtLnt,  whiltt  his  drew  blood  at  erer;  stroke.  At  length  m; 
blade  broke  in  mj  haod.  I  dretr  mj  dagger  and  closed  with  him. 
Yet  in  this  conflict  also  he  pieserred  the  same  advantage.  Uia 
armour  resigted  all  mj  efforts,  though  my  blows,  as'  I  thought, 
were  not  dealt  without  effect.  I  had  Be«D  him  reel  asd  crouch 
beneath  the  blow  by  which  I  broke  raj  sword;  an  iuvuhiiitarj' 
KToan  escaped  him  when  I  struck  him  near  the  belt  with  my 
dagger  i  aud  having  urged  its  point  through  an  opening  of  hia 
TiiOT,  I  withdrew  it  streaming  with  his  blood.  But,  on  renewing 
the  blow,  taj  dagger  also  broke  off  at  the  handle.  Meanwhile  his 
weapon  was  (ar  more  efficaoioua :  mj  hauberk,  of  the  best  Milan 
work,  my  actoiBn  (quilted  jacket),  in  short  my  whole  armoiur, 
which  had  often  preserved  my  &thei,  and  ailerwaida  myself,  &om 
wounds,  seemed  incapable  of  oppo«iug  the  slightest  resistance  to 
its  edge.  Blinded  by  the  blood  which  flowed  down  my  forehead, 
and  smarting  at  every  pore,  I  struggled  in  vain  against  my  well- 
armed  adversary,  whom  I  atUl  attempted  to  fell  witk  the  handle  of 
my  dagger.     I  sunk  at  his  feet  in  a  swoon. 

"  How  long  I  remained  on  the  ground  I  know  not ;  but  I  pra- 
Bume  that  my  trance  was  of  no  short  duration,  because,  on  my 
recovery,  I  perceived  by  my  aide  a  seooud  knight,  who  had  fallen 
beneath  the  sword  of  the  terrible  Qray-gteeL  The  conqueror  had 
cut  off  from  each  of  us  the  little  finger  of  the  right  band,  as  a 
token  of  his  victory.  Seeing  a  stream  of  water  near  us,  T  crept  to 
it  on  my  hands  and  kiiees,  washed  the  Uood  from  my  eyes,  re- 
freshed myself  by  a  moderate  draught  and,  having  fiiund  the 
broken  sttm  of  my  spear,  raised  myself  by  its  means  and  attempted 
to  walk.  My  own  horse,  and  that  of  my  antagonist,  lay  dead  on 
the  field  of  battle ;  but  a  third,of  meaDappear&nce,waBgrazingat 
some  distance.  I  mounted  hiin  with  much  pain  and  difficulty, 
MiH  began  my  journey  homewards,  whioh  I  oontiuued  during  the 
nmu^er  of  Uie  day. 

"  At  the  approaoh  of  evening  I  beheld  a  large  town,  which  I 
avoided,  ana  advanced  towards  the  castle,  which  had  a  spaciouB 
garden,  with  aibmus  diapOBed  along  its  iuclosurc,  and  banqueting' 
rooms  of  grMt  magnificence.  Stopping  near  one  of  these  arbours, 
I  beheld  a  beautiful  young  lady,  clothed  in  a  soarlet  mantle 
embroidered  with  gold  and  pearls,  who  issued  from  her  bower,  and 
slowly  advanced  towards  me.  On  my  alighting  to  meet  her,  alie 
saluted  me  as  a  knight,  and  invited  me  to  repair  to  the  castle, 
where  ahe  assored  me  that  I  should  receive  the  most  hospitable 
entertainment,  and  might  profit  by  the  assiatanee  of  the  most 
cunning  leeches  in  the  whole  country ',  but  I  declined  her  offer, 
and  requested  only  to  be  provided  with  food  aud  lodging  during  a 
single  night,  entreating  that  I  might  be  left  in  total  privacy,  as 
sleep  was  principally  necessary  to  my  recovery.  She  courteously 
•    granted  my  request ;  oonduoted  me  to  her  bower;  platied  nie  on 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


550  zABi-T  EKOuaH  xExncu.  Boxurcu. 

brbed;  and,)uvii)gintiiMlidia7lionBtotheanaf«ieaikK 
^^rifc  Jimtehed  the othw in q— ^  rf  '"   '"-   """  " 

Baked  fowls  ibe  faraidit  *| 

B|«M  aad  wioe,  fanM  oTmi 

A  hnr*  the?  !>»*«  gotten  aogn; 

Wann  mter  mt»  it  ma  daw^ 

And,  la  a  sItct  baan. 


nen  imed  nana  ai^v  te  tbe  nBNL 
The  ^ove  wia  wbde,  mj  ingn  waa  tii 
Bke  nti^wdl  know  it  wm  no  dinb 
She  parceiTed  that  I  thiw^  doHe, 
Km  aaked  not  irtiat  wa*  my  bmh^ 
Or  of  what  Mubj  I  waa  oone. 
Into  what  pbee  «r  in  what  nxm, 
Or  of  what  ootaOrj  that  I  wn<^ 
But  eaaed  me  in  aU  Banna. 
Badt  dntk  than  ac  riw  pm  iM  then, 
BmmliiemmmjfaM, 


More  weak  ai 

And  dried  af  Uood  aa  anr  taea. 

BerdnnkB  tb^hroo^t  HMaMmiaatate, 

mat  I  m^t  ^tak  and  anawv  maba. 

Sha  and  htrautid^  thoaa  ladiea  tfaie^ 

Of  all  mr  gear  they  nmlad  me  ; 

Both  of  B^  faanhnk,  and  muw  aetom, 

Waafaad  an  ajn,  and  laid  nn  dnwn. 

Wilb  hs- own  hand%  irtAe  aa  the  miU^ 

She  atopped  mj  woimda  fall  ofaflk,* 

And  ajn  wd  m»  into  a  bed, 

Hut  waa  widi  ailtoi  dwata  qxead. 
"Thaynmrleftme  tomyrepeee;  bat  the  la^  andbaniMidaaa 
MndnoMalj  watdied  ma  dnrii^  the  ni^it,  aimwii^  thenadaw 
witkaouga  irfloTe,  tiUtbenoteaofthalwdsfrvaitteiMWthaK^ 
iag  aiboor  wvned  them  of  the  aimroadt  of  imf.  IDw  lac^  thiB 
boag^  me^  in  a  bom,  a  mwfioated  drink  of  agretn  adoao^  irinah 
waa  BO  potent  that  mj  paies  immediatelj  vamihed.  fiba  agm 
'*'*'"  '  1^  diew  frma  hex  watdiobe  a  nlkan  aaif^ 


■  A  bami,  litcir,  O.  Tt.  ■  LoaL  *  Coaamon  Hnt  vooU, 

laohiA^,  uuwer  tbe  poipaw  better;  but  tilulB  dik  wai  >  narcltjr  it  waa 
thea^  to  poann  muj  medical  u  wdl  a  other  pofcotlcnii. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


SIB  EOBX,  BIB  OKXMiMX,  AKD  HI  aBAT-BTXXL.         551 

caOed,  hj  h«r  rimiib,  to  new  lib  tai  lisovr,  I  tliftitked.  her  ia 
tanu  ezpTMiiTe  of  the  wanoert  gmtitaie ;  but  she  iDterrupted 

aw,  and  uid,  'I  know,  Bir  kni^b,  that  thou  bearsct  io  th;  heart 


ft  M<R«t  panioa.  When  tbr  love  riiall  again  begin  to  exert  it* 
iafinenea^  all  thv  wmioda  will  opaa  almh,  and  all  the  puns  front 
whioh  m;  ddll  baa  lalieTod  thse  will  iaitaatijp  Mtum.    Xet  be  of 


good  cheer;  fi>T  the  lad^  of  thr  heut,  br  Mpeating  Uie  lame 
treatiMot  whicdi  I  have  pnMoed,  will  eaai^  eomiJetfl  tb;  cure.' 
Hftving,  iritii  grmt  difflonl^,  permudedlier  to  Momt  nme  trifling 

Cals  which  loaTiied  with  ma,  I  twA  Wn  ^  tliM  amiable  lady, 
supplied  me  with  wine,  and  proviamn  for  my  jounwf ;  ani  I 
airiTed,  healthy  and  vigorous,  within  a  short  dLrtauM  of  tiiia 
plaoo :  Wt,  uQ  approecbmg  the  abode  of  mj  b«lov«d  WinliaD& 
the  prophelio  threat  of  my  ftit  pneenet  wu  verified.  I  tm 
from  my  hone  in  a  iwmm,  my  woimda  b^an  to  bleed  afreah,  and. 
I  have  scaroely  beMi  able  to  reach  ny  ohambar  ia  th»  miswalile 
state  in  iriiiidi  you  now  briiold  mel " 

ffir  GMiam  had  listened,  in  mote  attantioD,  to  the  dwtreanng 
ntn«ti«»  of  his  frtod,  hnt  was  nsable  to  dnw  fivm  it  any  topio 
of  raUoDal  oonsdation.  "Tbsm  art,"  said  ha,  "tba  viotim  of  thr 
rashness.  Tot,  as  thy  weapons  <Ktfy  kava  ftilM  til  %  oontsst  witli 
the  fwinidable  Qtay^tael,  it  were  nnrwise  U»  n^na.  W«  oatuut 
oonoeal  fron  thy  mistisw  thy  ntwn  or  thy  ms&rtww ;  but  w« 
mint  iltnilhniiiTniiinitannsnrr tlijsilTniitniin.  nni  iglntn  thst  tbj 
wounds  ham  lesalted  from  a  oMfiiali  wjUt  a  ajunber  of  adwei- 
asriea."  The  mMos  was  good;  but  ait  qatowaid  cumuostsBW 
bad  abea^  premtad  the  auooaas  of  the  stratagsm. 

Winliuks,  l>M;inning  to  fear  that  Sir  Brs^  *^  wonld  bs  pto- 
traoted  beyond  the  tuns  fl^d  to  thtir  manriaga,  was  become  sx- 
tremaly  impatient  Ibr  bis  aninL  ISM  window  of  bar  bowai 
•ommanded  a  view  of  thei^Mrtmsnl.ooottpiedby'the  two  fHendsi 
and  as  sbs  was  oonstantly  on  tba  w^nh,  tihe  liglits  whioh  sb* 
bdieldontiMni^  of  her  lexer's  retom  raised  bw  andMi^i  sa 
tiiat,  throwing  a  manUe  orat  her  diooMsr^  she  hast^nad  to  tha 
door,  and  was  prapating  to  antat,  when  tba  low  and  ovstarkas 
■DUnd  of  their  tohns  lad  b^  to  listen  to  tbeir  oonverMtion.  Hw 
esn  tMTved  hn  so  w<dl  that  die  distinctly  oreriuard  tbe  real  his- 
toty  of  Sir  ^er'*  dsAat,  and  the  stray  by  whiah  th«y  intandad 
to  deoaiTe  her;  after  mnoh  she  ania  letind  to  her  ehamber, 
tbou^  not  so  leoM^  M  toeacipa  tbo  natiooof  Sir  Qrahaiii,wlui 
goBpSotad,  bom-tbe  predpitatioa  witit  whidi  she  inabad  by  their 
window  teat  dw  was  abaady  mntrMa  of  their  whcda.  secrat,  and 
lAo  wag  eonflrmed  is  his  mspicion,  hj  finding  that,  in  Uie  course 
of  a  fbw  henn,  t^  whcJa  gonrt  were  infonaad  of  Six  Sgar's 

In  the  mean  time  Iib  proouied  for  his  ftdend  the  aUeet  ImsA 
Oat  ooold  ba  fonnd.    The  oount  and  oountasa  eaae  da^y  to  the 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


&J2  KAKLT  SXaUIH  METUCAI.  XOSASCEB. 

mk  Hia.  wbo  br  witka«t  rigos  of  fife;  wUIe Sr  Onkam,  ia 
■Mill  to  their iniq«inM  wy  liiig Ua adTmUue, ie|itied,  "tfast 
brnT^mg  ia  9Mrt  «f  ^acr,  be  had  been  ntildeidj  iiimHi  il,  in  k 
■  ilil  mil  iliw  n  iilitir.  Tij  ihi  whde  kmdRd  a(  k  kugfat  wbim  ka 
had  faRMrt^  orcraoBe;  ^nt  tboo^  Omj  iram  ten  m  iiBinbet; 
sad  BMt  MBgcaeroadk  eHukd  1^  aH  toffetiicr,  he  hftd  nlti- 
BHtclr  kiBBd  MTCB  of  tkau.  *Dd  pot  to  fligbt  ^  raoaiidi^  thra^ 
ihiMgh  after  ncaiing  m  nuuij'  wounds  Unt  Ine  life  mc  atill  ia 
the  p*>*>it  danger."  Thia  report,  which  eooaideriiif  the  {wawe^ 
of  Sir  Epr,  wm  not  inowlible.  ww  genenUr  Wi^ed,  and  the 
iriMle  cout  expraaed  the  utawataoliatnde  fer  the  reoawr  of  the 
nathfaLfaen>. 

Wintiaoe  alone  utMicd  indiJbent  abont  the  fele  of  ha  lover. 
TbpM  dan  A|«ed  Defore  Ar  condeaoended  to  visit  tun;  and 
even  then,  after  tiMiiaiiiin  to  him  a  few  «aidiM  qnestioBi,  she 
r  Gralnm,  feaifal  that  her  hb- 
ir  might  produce  a  dangerona  diact  on  the  health 
of  hiT friend,  dttaiwd  her  abmet  bj  lorce  in  the  RMaa;  an^ 
haTing  feigned  to  emnne  with  her  in  a  whims',  declared  ahnd 
to  Sir  E^,  "that  the  la^r  had  only  fbih<»ne  to  see  hin  at  the 
caraect  reqiuBt  of  hia  phjsician.  and  that  hca- own  I  ''  '  *  ' 
fered  no  ^am  than  hi*  hj  this  end  pnUbttiML'' 
lover  wassatiified  with  this  anunnce;  and  darii:^ denn  weeks 
of  Bcknen;  the  kind  attentiuiia  ot  the  ooont  and  oowiteaB,  and 
cai«  of  hb  brodter.  Sir  Falliai,  and,  abovB  aD,  dte  piooa  frandi  of 
&  Qnham,  wboae  iDTentkni  craiatantlj  devised  new  excoiEa  far 
the  lareand  fonualTisits  of  hisnistre^  omtinDed  to  keep  hin  in 
ignceaaeeof  hernnkindD^ 

BU  the  mind  of  hit  liilii>D.  and  genenias  Erioid  wai  t^  no 
■cBus  at  caae.  This  ijstan  of  deodt  could  not  last  mocfa  longer, 
and  a  dtscotm  (rf  the  ttnth  might  T«l  be  fetal  to  the  aHinltaeeid. 
Ha  th«r«&H«  determined  to  ascenain  esaetlr  the  state  of  Win- 
laneV  auctions ;  and.  having  dqcaged  ha  in  a  e(iufeRno&  pleaded 
mort  deqoaitlv,  b«it  moet  ineffvctuallj.  the  cause  of  far  EgEii 
and.  having  in^xined  her  tliat  he  was  det^uined.  whenever  tu( 
hMhh  should  pcnnit.  to  seek  out  and  combat  the  kuizfat  who  was 
thecaunof  hii  late  diaster,  requested  that  die  would  oajmn  lum 
to  ahBtain  fnon  an  entexpriie  wtuefa  eoold  seaiedj  feii  <rf  proving 
fetaL  The  ladr.  after  a  moment's  alence,  cabnlf  tefdied.  "St 
Graham,  too  biow  thai  it  was  ahnja  my  intentiao  to  accrai  as 
a  hnrittcid  that  man  oolv.  who,  from  whatever  cause,  dtooU  be 
cvostantlv  victatioas  in  every  mteapiise,  fiir  Eger  ^inennd  to 
be  that  man.  As  sach  I  aoo^tted  him  fw  my  fhtnre  kwo.  t  was 
satiftied  wiUt  what  he  had  done;  I  exhorted  him  to  rdrdn  btm 
•eekinRuiy  BewadvcnniRa;  bait  he  wasraah  and  pcaamptooBL 
And  what  has  he  gained  r  Tea  need  not  answer;  fw  I  know  aH 
H*  fans  faeca  vanyished;  wtqniafaed  by  St  Oiay'^ted.    I  ^aid 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BtS  £C£B,  BIB  0B1.HAXX,  &KS  SIK  OSA.T-BTISEI,.        SS3 

this  from  hia  own  lips  fm  the  ni(^t  of  hii  (utjtbL  I  will  give 
him  no  oouiieel ;  wheuier  he  go  or  stay,  he  has  forfeited  my  huid, 
wiiioh  he  can  never  recover.  Sir  Qraham,  piqued  at  her  insen' 
Bibilitj^  replied,  "He,  I  am  persuaded,  will  no  longer  trouble  }[oa 
with  his  Buit,  hkving  fonnd,  during  his  last  disastrous  enterprise, 
a  nustreas  equallr  captivating,  and,  as  he  Eaya,  still  more  noblj 
bom.  Suppose,  tlierefore,  sinoe  he  slights  you,  that  you  should 
ftocept  of  me."  This  sarcastio  proposal  was  answered  by  a  look  of 
Hidignation,  and  thus  ended  the  oonference. 

S^  Qrahamnow  determined  on  the  generous  pr^ect  which  had 
long  floated  in  his  mind.  He  repaired  to  Sir  Bger,  and  said, 
"Tbe  kuight  who  hath  disgraoed  you  must  be  chastised  in  his 
turn. "  Had  your  weapons  correeponded  with  your  courage,  he 
would  have  been  slain,  or  made  prisoner  by  you ;  it  must  be  now 
my  biudnesB  to  defeat  or  kill  him  under  your  name  and  character. 
But  nine  days  must  elapse  before  I  can  encutc  my  purpose, 
because  that  time  will  be  neoeesary  to  persuade  the  court  of  youT. 
oomplete  recoveir.  Now  rise  and  dress  youreelf :  eihihit  yonr- 
e^  at  your  window ;  appear  to  be  occupied  in  reading  romanoes, 
or  in  any  other  amusement,  All  will  rejoice  at  the  return  of 
your  hesJtH,  partionlarly  the  oonnt,  who  will  hope  to  see  you 
speedily  united  to  his  daughter.  But  of  this  I  have  my  doubte; 
for  women  are  very  fickle.  Neit,  gradually  resume  your  usual 
exercises ;  and  lastly,  having  equipped  yourseK  as  if  for  a  distant 
adventure,  repair  to  court,  take  live  of  the  count  and  countess 
and  return  to  mo,  who  wiJl  be  ready  topereonate  you.  Remem- 
t>eT  to  wat«h  well  the  countenance  of  Winliane ;  but  say  little  to 
ler,  and  that  with  an  air  of  indifferenoe.  Should  I  succeed,  my 
return  will  be  speedy;  and  you  can  easily  pass  a  short  interval  in 
close  retirement  (for  thna  should  I  do  if  you  were  absent)  without 
betraying  yourself.  If  I  fail,  you  will  do  your  best  to  revenge 
me ;  and  neither  of  ua  will  h«  dishonoured,  though  both  should 
be  numberod  amongst  the  victims  of  the  mighty  Orav'Steel." — 
"Nay!"  exclaimed  Sir  ^er,  "though  I  should  lie  nere  these 
seven  months,  I.  will  depute  to  no  man  a  quarrel  which  is  solely 
my  own.  I  thank  you  much  for  your. noble  offer,  but  I  must 
revenge  myself  or  die." — "If  yon  oould  lie  here  seven  months 
without  being  supplanted  by  a  rival  I  would  not  intrude  between 
you  and  Sir  Gray-eteel.  But  Winliane  has  encouraged  the  ad- 
dressea  of  Sir  Oyles ;  she  knows  your  whole  story,  which  she 
overiieard  by  listening  at  our  door;  she  considers  you  as  disgraced." 

^  Eger  said,  "If  it  be  so, 

{Then  wot  I  well,  I  must  for^ 

Love-liking,'  and  manhood,  ^  clean!" 

The  water  rushed  out  of  his  eonl 

iptace.    A.S. 


J  t,  Google 


Hit  hMl  ha  ilnak,  Ut  huda  h0  mBft 
A^  CMcfc  hand  en  aaother  due : 

nti  mihiHii  1h    I  ■   "ii  'w.    Tifit 

Vtat  hm  I  TO*  to  God  1/ s«bt, 
Alt  t  A>II  liie  a«d  aNk  titt  kB^hL 
lato  vhat  land  that  ka  in  H 
i^ hia daf. er  eka  iM M. 
And  if  1  ehaMe  to  wiB  the  faU, 
Aad  gM  Ut  UiB.  or  ;«t  hia  AhU, 
OraDjHufeqC  hi*W*ee^ 
Tbe  ladr  wiU  tUnk  Ikai  it  it  ja;," 
ar  Bpr   naw  RfaMttaalr  tiMlid.  avl  hk   knOw.    Sk 
hBaa,waBealMi«toiMataitke«aalwcMe.    TkaiiackLaw 
AgMB,  ^  paMMd  aaanril»t  mari,  wfaidh  waa  canMr 
pMnad  br  hia  «ida«,  and  wkidi  it  «aa  jmlgei  iaB^iiawkh 
tasnoaacaotkiaoceaMa.    rr  "nhaw  '^  111  '      — j-— -»  •-  fm 
tkat  kar  napfaaw  Sr  Bnr  waa  w  tfaa  paat 

_  ^ „  __   tlw  tanklB  Gny-atad^  and  laqaaatod  tita 

kaa  oC  tkat  ■M|iiia  aa  a  BMaitr  far  wUA  be  ladgad  ia  W 
baadatfaedMitBattf  aUhiaaatnMa.  Tba  aagottattow  ■QtDiciad; 
art  Sir  "-n*^—  ablMBei  not  oolr  tU  CMad,  bat  tia  wfcafa 
hill  vkic^  ^  gaad  blj  zabted  with  mmA  pnOisi^;  b»- 
"  that  it  wMaa  toaBkaa«u,baidMfliart,  taawtaM 
;  ami,  ia  alwct,  ao  ¥ataab)a,  AaA  tfaa  pan  wUA  ka 
aafc  ««idd  ka  a  «MT  iiwlamata  MMMoatiM  te  Ha 
BMTtknK  ha^K  at  kn«k  prandrt,  »r%wptf  «■  Wi 
I  laawiiiillkaiaiiaiaiMialwaiif  Ikaiaail.  aa|Mariiil  liinaki 
Itk  ai^  kenv  awE  an  ifaa  ogkth  day  ain««l  hnarif  IK  kw 
■^  and  lapwnd  to  ikt  gnat  bd  to  taka  bava  af  tba  kn^M 
thanmt  vAaautMa.  It  wm  iiiwaikiiil  hyaB|iiiniik 
MM^Uator  was  aa  omU^  Moaaa^  k*  waa  pMS  iM 
MdiiaCM^itwwnat  wilbat  abn  that  fca  wM  lUa  *■ 


dd)^. 


tahaagakiaMamw 


ItMaa  Aa  aaafa  mMmiamm  to  dnait,  aad  knddr  *amtA  Wr 
kiApvM«dtolto*«ihateBL  Ifinliaita  wm  there.  Ut  weMJ 
'la  KMpaMBg;  art  arBsK.kami« 
ir  bakaa  to  inat  bar«tkaiM^ 
with  MMac  bar  abirt  whether  ^ 
'  4n  Rpbrt,  "knt  1  hope  nat  wiD 
I  JMtawa^Aaatkakwt.    Yen  tlm 


band.  Bvnrt  tolto*« 
pafaySdifcert  t. 
bam  anrtr  ««aiMd 


lift  a  finser  beVrt  }«■:  thia  tsM  yaw  abtrtd  kaivaileMt  a 
hart:"  A  t^RMT  of  't»i«w"iilMiiiai  waa  iiiiiiwTiali li  heard 
thwa^  Iha  iinlly,  mad  gr  SgK  waa  BMch  tooitiScd;  bat  ke 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BIB  EOEB,  SIB  OBAEAJIX,  AND  SIB  OBAT-STBM,,         555 

(finembled  hiB&dingB,  wad,  bowing  to  the  amambl;,  tetini  to  bis 

WinlikDB,  howerer  Toid  of  kfieotian,  wu  by  go  meuis  deSdwt 
IB  onriositj.  She  hutened  to  the  windoir  of  her  bower  for  tlie 
pnrnMe  of  vntmeBain^  her  bTer'g  departure,  and  i>f  jud^ns,  by  hv 
moie  of  managiiig  hu  horse,  whetlKr  he  was  indeed  soltf  rem* 
verod  u  to  have  a  chance  of  aioc«as  in  the  periloiu  ealamm 
which  he  had  uQdertaken.  In  the  mean  time  Bir  "Eget  had 
Uirowii  offhis  aimour,  and  Sir  Qniiam,  with  tlie  aeaistauM  of  8u 
Palliaa,  was  in  a  few  miuutee  readj  to  personate  his  friend,  A 
war-horse,  capuisoned  with  the  ntmoat  care  under  the  direotioaitf 
ffir  Palliaa,  who  had  attentivelj  surroTed  everj  gir^  and  pioiad 
ihe  strength  of  ever;  buckle,  was  read;  saddled  at  the  dow,  "Bm 
two  brotherv  in  amm  parted  aft«r  a  short  unbrace.  Sir  »"*—-»■ 
faulted  into  the  saddle,  cansedbis  steed  to  oorvet  for  etune  minotw 
nader  the  window  of  the  astonished  Wialiane^  and  tbou  seUim 
qxuB  to  his  sides,  departed  in  full  gallop,  and  with  tbe  rapi^i^rf 
liriitning  diauipeared  in  the  sbtdea  of  tbe  neiKhbooiing  fbrat 
3£e  lad;  oould  scarcelj  bdiera  the  teetiowny  ttf  her  ejce.  Sm 
descendod  froio  hei  bower,  and  repaired  to  tiie  lo<king  of  <hg 
knights,  where  Si  E^,  fatigued  bj  the  weight  of  Usannoni; 
equally  diasatiafied  with  hia  tuirtreea  and  with  himself  and  fiill  of 
aiudetj  for  Sir  Qraham,  had  already  retired  to  bed.  She  hurriad 
throng  the  outer  room  without  noticing  the  aalntationa  of  Sr 
Palliaa,  who  att^npted  to  aoooet  her,  and  paased  into  the  hat- 
chamber,  the  windowa  of  which  wore  paitlr  dosed,  so  that  die 
features  of  the  knight  within  the  bed  oould  not  be  diacoTerad. 
As  she  had  bo  lately  oonversed  with  her  km,  and  had  still  mov 
lately,  as  she  thcm^t,  seen  him  dapvt  on  hia  advenlnre,  An 
accoBt«d  him  without  gnapicioa  by  the  name  of  hia  friend. 
"Sir  QrabanL"  said  she,  "I  am  idrt  in  snrpriset  I  bare  thja 
nxmunt  beheld  Sir  Eger,  who  not  ten  days  ago  was  confined'  to 
his  bed :  yet  has  he  now  the  air  of  »  hero ;  and,  trust  me  be 
■eems  likely  to  speed  in  what  he  has  nndrataken.  lAtOe  o^fi- 
denm,  howero^  can  be  placed  in  the  prowess  of  a  buobt  so  Istdr 
discomfited.  To  what  pnxpoee  should  h«  oigaf^  in  n«A  adraB* 
tuies?  His  honour  can  no  bnger  be  TeooreTcdl"  Sic  Bkoft 
easily  oounterfeiting  the  voice  ot  his  friend,  utterly  denied  tb« 
triumph  of  Sir  Qray-eteeL  and  repeated  most  oiiaDmstantMliy  to 
the  indionant  lady  the  mbricsted  tale,  which  she  knew  to  ba 
totally  fiJse;  oonduding  by  a  deelaration,  that  he  was  detomiaed 
not  to  stir  from  bis  bea|  nor  to  admit  any  visitant  exoept  hosdfi 
till  the  return  of  tbe  injured  and  detuned  ffit  Bger.  &i  PalUas  ' 
Touobed  for  Uie  same  stery,  and  made  the  same  dMlaraMon:  so 
that  the  &ir  Winliane,  OTerwhdmed  with  VBzation,  and  almost  in 
donbt  whether  all  her  senses  bad  not  conspired  Ut  deoetve  and 
confounded  her,  hastily  put  an  end  to  ha  visit,  and  retired  to  her 
ohamber. 

D,j„.„_,  Cookie 


050  EABLT   KKGLIIH   JfETBICAI.  BOlUHCEfl. 

We  miMt  now  attend  upon  Sir  Orahun,  who,  hmvuig  readied 
the  forett,  btgan  to  recapitulate  is  hia  miod  the  diiectioDa  b^ 
which  he  wai  to  guide  himself  for  the  purpoee  <^  finding  tm 
road  oroT  a  large  tract  of  desert  countrr,  aad  the  tok«i8  wtadt 
would  enable  nim  to  recogoiae  the  bcMtlifiil  Lilliaa,  to  whoee 
medical  (kill  hii  friend  had  been  to  much  indebted.  After  thirtj- 
mllM  of  a  road  which  was  alreadr  familiar  to  him,  he  would  find 
au  extenaive  moor,  and  miut  follow,  during  tiniT  dajB,  the  right 
bank  of  a  mountain  torrent,  until  it  aitould  be  joined  bj  a  Mcond, 
which  he  muit  ford,  and  then  keep  the  united  itream  on  hia  lefk 
hand  till  tie  should  arrive  at  the  lea-Bhore,  He  must  then  follow 
the  iandi,  keeping  a  rockj  forest  on  his  right,  till  he  reached  ao 
ezt«nsive  and  cuUirated  plain.  He  would  then  see  at  the  dis- 
tanoe  a  fair  oaatle,  with  ipacioui  orcharda  and  gardens,  and,  on  » 
Bearer  approach,  would  readilj  distinguish  the  ladj't  bower, 
which  was  remarkoble  bv  its  numerous  spires,  surmouTit«d  bf 
vanes  and  woatherooaki  nchij  gilt,  and  flhining  like  glass  in  the 
Run'i  raj^  The  ladj  was  distinguished  from  Iter  attendants  hj 
her  height  and  fair  proportions,  bj  the  cleamees  of  her  oemt- 
plexion,  and  b;  the  beauty  of  her  eje-brows,  which  nearly  joined 
Beddet  this,  there  was  a  small  red  spot  near  one  of  her  eyes,  which 
the  extreme  whiteness  of  her  skm  rendered  very  oonBpicnoQ& 
The  silken  tart  (shift,)  which  he  bore  with  him,  would  serte  as 
an  iutroduotiou,  and  he  was  to  oonvej'  to  her  some  rich  bToocbcs 
knd  Jewels  in  return  for  her  kind  hospitality  to  Sir  Eger. 

Toese  initructions  were  ftilly  suffioient  for  the  guidanoe  of  a 
knight,  who  was  of  ooutse  in  the  habit  of  trayelBng  throu^ 
tntrioate  foreets,  and  of  ezeroisiiig  his  gagadty  in  finding  his  way 
by  means  of  the  sun  and  stars,  by  the  lauea  on  the  stems  of  trees, 
and  by  other  natural  indications.  But  Sir  Qraham  was  still  more 
ftirtunite.  Uaving  reached  the  sea-side,  he  overtook  a  yeoman 
mounted  on  a  hackney,  who  readily  undertook  to  guide  him  to 
the  oaitle.  From  him  he  learnt  that  the  oountry  which  he  had 
Juit  entor«d  wa«  called  Oaliia*;'  that  the  earl,  whose  castle  he 
beheld,  was  named  Oorius;  that  Lillias  was  his  daughter  and 
heiren;  her  brother,  Sir  Alistoun,  having  been  killed  by  Oray- 
ated;  and  lastly,  that  she  wasitill  unmarried,  though  she  had 
bMn  betrothed  to  a  knight,  named  Sir  G&rrentine,  who  having 
ktttmpted  to  revenm  the  death  of  her  brother,  had  been  killed  \^ 
the  sane  formidalue  champion.  The  ^roan  did  not  quit  Sir 
Graham  till  he  approached  the  dty,  which  he  entered  alone  and 
■topped  befura  the  door  of  o  prinoipBl  biirgass,  by  whom  he  was 
noun'cd  with  all  the  honours  duo  to  a  knight-erraut.  His  horw 
WM  ootiduoted  to  the  beat  stall  in  the  stable ;  and  the  burgess,  his 
toiily,  and  lervants,  were  all  in  motion  to  provide  for  hnn 
tM  beat  meant  oi  aocommodation :  but  the  kni^t,  hastilT  dis- 
)  Ellis  raoBttt  Galloway,  whkb  iiby  m  hmhi  evidcat. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


US  EGSB,  BIX  GBAOAJIK,  UTD  SIX  O&LT-BTEEL. 

luting,  and  refiuing  the  ofier  of  an  BBOoit,  iminediateljr  passed 
dty,  and  a  •  •        ■•  ■■  .      i    .■  ,... 


through  the  dty,  and  iqtproachiiig  the  cutle,  examined  all  its 
ftvenuea,  and  lewulj  discovered  the  gnidens,  the  aibours,  and  the 
lady's  bower,  whidi  perfeotlT  agreed  with  Sir  Egcr's  description. 
He  liad  not  waited  long,  when  Ite  also  saw  the  ladj,  whom  be 
instantly  recognised  and  accosted  as  an  old  acqoaintance,  producing 
at  the  same  tune  the  *tUe»  nnt,  which  she  had  bestowed  upon 
bis  friend,  together  witli  the  pitaent  of  jewels:  at  the  sight  rf 
wiuch  the  beuiliAil  lillias  imiuiied,  with  the  most  tender  adliA- 
tnde,  after  the  health  of  the  knight  wtto  bad  sent  her  those  tokens. 
St  Qiaham  bad  determined  to  personate  bis  friend,  whom  be 
nearly  resembled  in  figure,  and  whose  vdce  he  was  able  to  imitata  ' 
Teiy  exactly.  He  bad  altered^  by  meaui  of  an  ointment,  the 
oolooi  of  bu  skin;  had  carefully  concealed  bis  hair;  and,  CKOt- 
fiding  in  hia  disguise,  answered  without  hesitation  that  he  was  the 
burnt  who  was  so  much  indebted  to  ber  for  the  restoration  of  his 
health  and  life.  lilliaa,  oveijoyed  at  this  assurance,  earnestly 
feqaested  bim  to  accompany  her  to  her  bower,  where  he  had  been 
already  entertained ;  but  the  knizhL  foreseeing  that  this  must  lead 
b»»  disoovei^  of  the  artifice,  replied  that  be  liad  already  taken  up 
his  inn  withm  the  town,  and  must  defer  his  vint  to  ber  till  M 
should  bars  acoompliabed  the  object  of  his  adventure,    Astonished 


at  this  lefbsaL  ahe  surged  him  with  an  air  of  doubt,  and  hastily 
palling  down  nis  glore,  wtd  perceiving  that  his  band  was  entire, 
exclaimed  with  an  air  of  intugnation,  that  she  was  no  longer  sor- 


"  For  here  mob  leeching  is  there  nom ! 

There  is  no  leedi,  in  all  this  land. 

Can  pat  a  finger  to  a  band! 

The  trngei  that  he  left  in  wed,' 

That  luM  another  in  its  stead, ' 

Both  as  fair,  aa  whole,  as  dean 

As  ever  it  was  or  yet  had  been ! 

Te  should  not,  Sir,  in  a  strange  land, 

Hock,  nor  yet  be  over-bourdaiid  ;* 

But,  if  ye  will  with  bourdings  deol, 

Bif^t  deanly  than  ye  should  th^  -nSi — " 
txA,  having  continued  for  some  time  in  the  same  strain,  threw 
down  his  present  of  jewels  with  contempt,  and  hastily  turned  from 
hitTi  to  depart. 

During  the  early  part  of  this  oonvemtion,  Sir  Qraham  had  con- 
templated with  gnat  attention  and  fdeasure  the  mild  and  benevo- 
lent features  of  ute  beautiful  Idlliaa :  but  bra  animation  gave  them 


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5SB  «i^i.T  xiraLiBH  hbtucaz.  sdkutcxs. 

miA  additionml  cAkuiu,  tba  tdoA  of  indwiiBtion  in  her  dMta 
WM  M  beoomiiig,  and  ttat  Aim  tijte  kindud  ittba  eadi  ian^Bg 
brll)i»naj>  tint  hman  the  ooBdnsion  of  hn-  lecton  be  fimndfaim- 
wlf  mot  ■eriuwly  emunonred  of  tiie  ftir  pwdMr.  To  part  mlih 
berflraswMhDpcMiblo.  H«Mai«dherhiiidB,d«tnDedherin>(dto 
sfbentroggkB,  md  Ibroed  ber  to  hear  fail  whiAeMorj,  whidi  ha 
T^ted  witti  pariiMt  Teneit^.  Idlliuimafbr  athnemcraduIonB; 
but  fib-  Onhun,  now  in  lorc  fbr  Um  flrat  time,  wae  beeome  » 
•loqncnt  sndpenuMivetiMtflbe  oonldMt  diabehere  bim.  Ofhia 
UfROMfainx  eo&flict  with  ffir  Gtrtj-rtael  be  qioke  in  tenns  of  t«- 
Soml  oonfiloioe,  not  feperapngtheprtwroeDof  bia«dvwmry,bnt 
tnuting  to  thejnstiae  of  bia  oense;  he  dmlt  mndi  on  the  aooom- 
pUibmente  and  nmita  of  Sir  Bksi'<  on  hia  brilU&nt  tbIoot,  on  hii 
tntth  *,nd  oatuttmay  to  hii  nustrees,  on  bie  steodj  and  oordid 
fiiandahip,fautpuBedoTer*sK  thing  of  ooone  bis  own  diiiDte- 
tnted  generoBty  in  devotinK  bis  own  life  for  the  gratification  of 
hiifiiend.  ThialaBtp«i)t,bDweTOT,  was  not  lost  upon  tiie  gentia 
LiBiaa,  who  b«g*i>  to  nrvey  him,  if  not  with  tore,  at  least  with 
^«I7  nnoeie  adminrtioB.  Thar  quarrel  waa  now  ended,  and  it  wru 
igned  that,  inBt«»dof  Tetnrning  to  the  city,  he  ^ould  sap  in  the 
lady'i  bower,  and  be  lo^ed  in  the  buk  bed  which  had  been  fat- 
mndj  oooni^  hj  Si  ^fpe. 

After  a  {ilontiful  ropast,  tbe  hdj  bens  to  rttete,  in  her  tan, 
the  hiatmr  of  ha  BuafiHtame.  Bbe  hwioDoe  &  brotlieT  whom  da 
tvtderij  tared ;  an  «dmirer  fH'  wfacm  die  fdt  a  no  less  ardent 
afiotion;  and  both  Imd  CUlen  beneath  the  sword  of  the  inbomn 
Qraj-tteoL  She  oonld  not  pronounce  that  bated  nainewithoat 
torrenta  of  tears ;  Sir  Qrmham  could  not  behold  those  teara  without 
feeUug  the  most  ansiouB  in^utdencetoencounter  the  wicked  cham- 
pion who  caused  them  to  flow,  nor  without  the  secret  hope  of 
obtainii^  hT  hia  dostmction  that  place  in  her  heart,  which,  bjhei 
own  oonreaeion,  waa  now  nnoooopied.    She  uaooDscioOBlj  repeated, 


determination,  with  wbioh  it  waa  necesaarr  to  c  

dnndfiil  antagonist  The  night  i»{»d]y  wore  «waT,  and  Sir  Qrk- 
him  would  have  been  irlad  to  paaa  the  whole  of  it  m  coDTermti<m ; 
tat  tbe  ladr  at  lei^  diimiaed  Um  to  hia  bed,  where  he  laj 
wttbout  da«n»  hia  eyes,  hie  imagination  being  ms^yed,  aono- 
timee  in  piotunng  the  amiable  Iiilliaa|  aometimes  in  wpiuw^tii^ 
IMwinrmrj  uroetrateat  hia  feet  AtlasttlKdarhioke,aBdDeTer 
had  be  wialiied  M  audouly  f or  ita  arri^aL  Kie  dawn  was  nabered 
in  by  tbe  MOga  of  lunte  from  tbe  noig^boaxii^  arbours,  and  by 
tbe  atill  more  weloome  approach  of  bis  lady  who,  attended  bj  her 
two  maidcni,  brought  a  long  tzain  of  baked  meata  and  apioed 


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BIB  XflZB,  SIB  OKABUn,  tjm  SIB   oaA.T-BTERI,.    SS9 


Sir  Qnlutm  beiag nowTtadf  to  dajMort,  the  Udj  escUimed : 
"StrOnhaml  ah,  knight  of  ftnutiire! 

In  jtnm'  think  on  jvurpanmonrt* 

I  will  not  )»d  7ml  think  on  me; 

Itiink  on  jonr  Ion,  whereTsr  die  be, 

And  gn  jaax  frimdB  that  an  at  hme, 

And  on  foor  gvarting  yon  have  te'en. 

And  here  jonr  «uprar  dinll  be  di^t, 

I  think  je  Bhall  be  hsre  at  ni^t. 

Think  not  Orar-ateel,  albeit  he  wold, 

ShallJunder  foa  yoor  tiTBt*  to  bold  1 " 

Ho  aaid,  "Ladv,  bo  Qod  me  rede. 

An  if  je  woulij,  he  shall,  not  speed ! " 
Lilliae  srait  a  page  to  aoKMapan^  him  to  his  nn,  aad^  with  tiw 
pwa,  a  latge  bottle  of  her  beet  and  Mrongeit  wine,  wfaioh  lie  waa 
a&rad  to  teten  to  the  eaddle-bowa.  The  hone,  who  had  ftd 
aaplMtti&llj  and  bad  ilept  more  eouodlj  than  hii  maater,  appeared 
impatiaiit  for  action ;  and  Sir  Qr&ham,  vanltiug  into  ue  aaddle, 
iMgaa  his  mazeh,  aeoompanied  bf  die  appbuue  and  pitj  of  nuow- 
nu  apeotMors. 

Woman  weeped  tore  for  the  knight. 

Wheal  be  paaed  ont  of  their  lignt; 

liuif  trowed  be  would  be  in  that  ataad, 

When  many  meD  had  left  their  bead. 
Bre  it  waa  mid-mom  of  the  day, 

He  oame  where  that  the  plane  did  lay 

Whidi  was  called  "  tfae  land  of  doabt ; " 

A  forest  lying  round  about. 

In  Boman  Btories  who  will  read^* 

Two  mifea  of  length,  and  two  of  biede.' 

He  saw  no  thing  into  that  stead, 

Bnt  gnat  fekm  don  deer  and  rtd. 

He  mw  beside  him,  on  a  heuht, 

A  &ir  CMtel,  with  towns  wight, 

A  deq)  river,  long  and  biade : 

Waa  nemr  one  tiiat  over  it  nde, 

Cniat  had  not  Sir  Oray-steel  bit  leavs) 


'  Oowd.  ■  Lore.  >  Ihce  of  qtpointeient. 

*  BDii  agiia  em  In  oonjectaring  ■  rcfemica  la  hen  intanded-  to  the 
Mta  Bominarrun.    It,  of  conne,  reTan  to  the  romHcw  itariti. 
■  Breadth.  ■  Btfiaot,  ben  Bted  Ibr  deftat. 


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IfBTBICU.  BOMARCH. 

When  he  WM  on  the  other  dda, 

Then  fiur  and  hulie'  could  he  ride. 

He  lode  the  two-pirt  of  the  land, 

And  nothing  found  he  than  etilrand. 

He  lighted  on  his  foot,  and  stood, 

To  ease  hii  hotM,  and  do  him  gocid. 

His  roear  he  tticked,  it  was  so laag; 

Hia  stield  npou  his  saddle  hang; 

^rne,  drank  of  wine,  and  made  goodcheet; 

^en  thought  upon  his  ladj  dear ; 

And  then,  no  longer  would  he  bide, 

But  near  the  casue  oan  he  ride,  Ac. 
Sir  Qny-vteel,  informed  hj  his  spies  that  an  adventnimis  kn^t 
awaited  turn  in  the  forest,  at  lengui  issued  from  his  castle^  dad  in 
hia  red  armoui',  and  mounted  on  hit  powcrftil  baj  horse,  idiOM 
footsteps  shook  the  around  to  a  eonnderable  distance.  «r  On- 
ham,  who  had  been  ung  lost  in  thought,  started  from  his  rarcrie^ 
reoognited  the  hateful  enemy  of  his  £nend  and  of  hia  mistress 
defiM  him  to  mortal  oombat,  aai,  firmly  grasping  bis  tanoe,  rode 
at  full  speed  to  the  encounter.  So  true  wis  nis  eje,  snd  so  weD 
had  he  airected  the  we^Mn,  that  the  hitherto  invincible  an,;-st«d 
was  thrown  to  »  dirtanoe  on  the  field.  He  rose,  however,  unhurt, 
andj  drawing  his  sword,  ran  furiously  to  meet  Sir  Qraham,  who 
having  sprung  from  his  horse  adv&noed  towards  him,  aniiooe  to 
terminate  as  quickly  as  possible  a  conflict  on  whidi  hia  life  was 
staked.  But  uiough  eaeer  he  was  not  precipitate:  he  husbanded 
hia  strength,  and  waited  till  he  was  sure  <»  his  aim ;  when  diS' 
charging  a  dreadful  blow  on  the  helmet  of  his  antagonist,  h«  drove 
the  metal  into  the  skull,  and  inflicted  a  dreadful  wound.    But 


slipping  fiW  his  right.  The  victory,  therefore,  w^s  still  nnde- 
mded ;  and  the  two  champions  at  first  appeared  to  be  eqnaDy 
enfeebled ;  but  in  a  short  time  the  angtu^  of  Sir  Qrav-ctedS 
wound  became  almost  intolenble ;  his  brain  became  giddy,  his 
stomach  sickened,  and  his  sight  grew  oonfused ;  while  ffir  Oranam, 
whose  arm  had  been  benorabed  and  rendered  tenaeleas  by  the  fint 
ahock,  gradually  reooreied  his  vigour.  Aware  of  tiiis  advantage 
from  the  ill-diracted  blows  of  bis  adversary,  he  called  on  him  to 
yield  himself  and  loe  for  mercy;  bat  the  indignant  Qruy-Meel 
retdied  by  a  fierce  and  liaaghty  defiaooe,  and,  raising  his  sword 
with  both  hands,  dealt  such  a  blow  on  the  head  cf  ffir  Graham 
that  the  blood  biust  from  his  nose,  and  he  staggered  a  few  pMca 


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BIK  XOEB,  8ia  (ISAH1.IIB,  AND   BIB  QBAT-STKEL.    561 

backward :  he,  however,  soon  recovered  himself  and  dieohaiviiiK 
«  haok-atroke  od  the  throat  of  his  enemy,  ne&rlj  severed  the  head 
Ataa  the  body. 

Gr&j-steel  into  his  death  thus  thTa.ws;' 

He  waiters '  and  the  grasa  up-dmws; 

His  arms  about  him  could  he  cast, 

He  pulled  herbea  and  tooIb  &st. 

A  little  while  thea  !aj  he  still, 

(FrieudB  that  him  saw  liked  full  ill) 

And  bled  into  bis  armour  bright 
While  Kr  Graj-steel  was  expiring  in  convulsiona,  the  victor 
repaired  to  bis  horse,  and,  taking  the  bottle  from  his  saddle-bow, 
■wallowed  a  copious  draught  of  wiiu,  the  gift  of  the  prorident 
Lillias.  He  then  hastily  returned  to  his  slaughtered  enemy;  cut 
off  the  right  hand,  which  he  placed  in  its  mailed  gauntlet ;  put 
on  hia  own  bead  the  golden  helmet  of  Sir  Qray-steel ;  and,  having 
Boosted  the  two  shields  on  the  saddle  of  his  own  horse,  whom  he 
led  iu  his  risht  band,  mounted  the  hay  chai^er,  and  hastened  from 
the  field  of  Battle,  leet  he  should  be  mole^ed  in  hia  retreat  by  a 
sa^  of  Sir  Oray-eteel's  adherents  from  the  neighbouring  castle. 

Though  he  rode  as  fiwt  as  he  could,  it  was  night  before  he 
leacbed  his  inn  in  the  city,  from  whence  he  departed  in  the 
morning.  He  was  immediately  attended  by  crowds  of  inha- 
bitants, who  pressed  forward  to  behold  the  wonderfiil  knight  who 
had  aahieved  the  adventure  of  "tAe  land  ofdouit,"  and  brought 
oS  the  spoils  of  the  terrible  Qray-steeL  The  golden  helmet,  on 
whioh  no  former  □hampion  had  been  able  to  make  anv  impression, 
passed  from  hand  to  band ;  the  great  bay  steed  wiui  his  golden 
saddle,  and  the  shields  with  the  bearings  of  the  two  kniriits,  were 
anzkualy  examined  ;  but  cnriositT  was  ^articnlw^  busy  with 
the  features  of  Sir  Qraham,  while  he  was  impatient  to  withdraw 

■"    *        " ■"''"""),  lest  some  unto- 

ecret,  and  deprive 

his  Iriend  of  the  honour  of  the  adventure.    He  oalled  his  host. 

and  said,  "  Though  not   dangerously  hurt,  I   am  wounded,  and 

much  fatigued,  so  as  to  stand  in  need  of  a  good  leech.    Beiddes, 

though  Sir  Gray-steel  is  dead,  his  friends  mav  seek  to  revenge 

him,  and,  if  they  learn  that  I  am  lodged  in  this  open  town,  may 

Micomplish  their  purpoae.     1  would  fain  repair  to  the  oastle,  or  to 

Uie  bower  of  Lillias,  whose  skill  is  so  well  known  to  me ;  and 

request  you  to  oonduct  me  thither,  and  to  take  with  you  the 

helmet  and  the  ^ove,  whioh  I  have  en^ged  to  lay  at  her  feet  as 

a  proof  of  my  Buooesa."    The  hoat  obeyed,  and  conducted  him  to 

the  bower. 

When  ttiey  arrived,  they  found  the  gat«  dosed.    Within,  b 

'Tnraai  thnnri.  ■  To**ei,  welter*,  tomblei,  ^.  Gloi. 

20 


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KA&LX   EMOUBII   XXTBICAI.  KOXAJTCB*. 

wia  mvgmni,  kt  wiidi  ni  the  de^ondiiig  UDubmo^b- 
[  bf  her  ■inrrf"'',  SIm  for  &  tiioe  ■urrejed  the  nntondieJ 
M,  And  then  exclumed, 

"  H«  Uwt  ■■ppar  f(*  i*  iU^ 

LT  odd,  I  trow,  thk  m^ ! 
to  diamber  1  hun  led; 
ThiB  nigfat  Orkj-steel  haa  made  his  bed!" 
a  theee  snd  amilar  nfleetiotu  ghe  rriapeed  int«  her  mdsn- 
reverie,  which  wu  inteirapted  bj  the  rcnoe  of  the  bargsH, 
oUdted  ulmittuiae.     One  of  the  maideDi  replied,  that  et 
a  undue  bour  be  ooold  obIv  giia  acoen  to  hn'  miotraH  bj 
nxmd  through  lite  ostle,  where  the  key  was  alwaje  ludgod; 
)  insisted,  declaring  himself  the  mmmiincii   of  the  adrcn- 
I  knig^  who  had  Irit  them  in  the  monio^  »nd  aiuw^ing 
qoivtuHu  in  sooh  a  "«""«'  m  to  prove  the  troth  of  the 
ion.    liUiai  now  interfered,  obi  .•    .    <        ■  ■     >  - 

light's  retain,  and  would  have 
!verj  Attention ;  hot  that, 
she  did  not  wish  for  an^ct 

«  darkneas  irf  the  n^{bt  hi 
lied  him  to  takeagnide;  bat  that  he  had  not  lost  at— wt 
town,  having  immediately  haetesed  to  (hank  her  fir  fas 
alit J,  and  once  nun  ts  unphwe  hn  awiiiltiiisi 
the  sound  of  his  voice  all  ohetades  vanished,  the  doHa 


ibecaiiiie  that  she  rqjnieeH  in 
«  been  luq^yto  leceivahim 
nbe  preferred  bia  inn  in  the 


he  answered  as  shortly  ae  be  ooaM,  aKoiing  the  ladj  that 
1  oonstantlj  thoo^t  on  h^  daring  the  otnnbat,  and  thai  te 
■age  he  bad  been,  under  the  Ueesing  of  PtmidetHie,  indeUad 
I  victtHy.    lliilUa^  dwing  the  stay  ot  his  snide,  ooold  only 

him  by  a  look  itf  love  and  gratitude;  liiil,Tiiiiii4  iljiiiiiiii'l 
npeea,  repeated  all  her  qneatians  for  the  pvrpoee  ot  bearing 
ttition  of  Um  eaate  aaawer,  and  waa  preparing  to  make  & 
r  avowal  of  her  tendemee^  when  the  Moody  hand  ot  Qe»^ 
Mloeed  in  its  mailed  gMintfat  met  her  eye^  and,  awnkoaiBK 
f  her  fonou-  misfbrtonea,  drew  from  bs  a  lleea 


«.  She  DOW  reproached  henelf  with  focgitling,  for  a  b 
that  the  formidable  Qtay-eted  could  not  have  fiiOsn  qd 
oiged;  that  his  sword,  whidi  never  deeoeo^d  in  vain,  oo«ld 
ve  cnddenly  lost  its  edge;  and  that  her  low  in  d  {H^*- 
vas severely, perhapedangmuely, wounded.  SbeoQedbar 
B  to  asBst  in  unlacing  the  knight's  armoor,  esarnkted  the 
IS  hurt  on  his  shoulder,  ehaddmd  at  the  si^t,  aid  mUt  a 
"T'"'"'  "n: —  *-  -rr'r"'rii^nnemij  iLiuiliLi,  whifeAe 


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ilK  ZOBX,  ns  OXAKIMX,  AXO  SIB  flRAT-STEEL. 


'Might  V'  MJd  ibe,  "inspart  to  117  ftflLw,  oa  vkoM  h  .  . 
mftj  craifidBiit^  lUf,  toa  hktoiy  o£  what  ;ini  Iwi*  done^  fas 
wrald  be  M*dj,  I  am  mam,  to  mmH,  eran  vitb  tba  imeat  of 
all  hu  lauda,  tke  aHU(tieior  of  the  femiovt  any-tfeel !  "J  ttk 
jfatti,imig^  fair  IdttiM,  Mtt  jvut  haod."  "And  (bat  ihaU  be  TOon," 
z^pliad  dM,  "  vhaa  job  think  fit  to  dakn  iL  I  will  now  Ion* 
jou  to  nr  rtiBWiJi,  who  will  itrve  jaa  with  e^oe  Knd  wiaa,  aail 
irill  ntani  with  my  &th(r  •■  aocni  m  you  laaU  hava  t 
jTDiir  ftrnwnr  and  faa  nadj  to  teoBtrc  Iub. 

Xhe  earl  ma  etill  in  the  halL  Suroer  hang  oadad,  tfca  mia- 
rrtreb  had  begun  tiieir  utuic,  to  irhi^  however,  he  paid  ma 
sttentioQ,  hie  mind  beinf;  painnillyooa^iied  by  the  ntoBeetiaa  at 
Ills  niiafiirtane^  and  b;  inecdieieBt  iwrneeta  of  TODgnnea  agabui 
liia  entd  Orajr-eteeL  He  paced  riknur  baekwaida  and  fbnrudi 
ut  tiie  halL  hia  kni^ita  KOectfiilly  SomviBg  to  istnide  on  hii 
reTerie,  when  Lillias  niddeiUT  entered  with  an  air  of  ^ddj  gaiety 
and,  haviiiK  inquired  into  tae  eanae  of  Ida  BMlaochdy,  promiBod 
blm  immediate  conaotatioii,  aad  praeeeded  to  idate  the  whole 
Btor;  of  Sir  Eger,  of  hie  dfl&a^  of  the  i^ef  which  ahe  h«d 
afforded  him,  of  Ibe  (uliaacriKntadeeBtwe  of  hia  brother  in  anus, 
and  of  the  deetraction  at  OiaT'alael,  whoae  hdnet  and  shield 
together  with  his  hloodj  Itand,  wwe  then  in  her  bower.  "And 
where,"  exdaiased  tte  eail,  "is  tht  imlnistrtwt  vouth  who  has 
destroTed  the  ferocHiie  voBatflrF  "Healso,"ie[iued  LUlias,  "is 
in  mj  bower,  bnt  means  to  diqtait  at  dar-break.  Will  mv  father 
oondeaoend  to  vidt  htm}"  Hie  earl  ieataiittT  soiled  the  hand  of 
the  countess,  and,  fWowing  bis  daughtw,  adnaeed  towards  the 
knight,  who  sooted  him  most  respeotfuUr ;  after  which  he 
dropped  on  his  kneea,  retained  thanks  U  Qoi,  Mtd,  addressing  Sir 
Ibuaai,  azdatssed, 

"OnyoH  be  wonhipaBdhonovrt        '^^ 
Of  BatuneyovbaTewoadMiowa)^    . 
80  doo^tilj  as  je  hxn  'sailed. 
And  that  mnj  theseof  hawe  bHai. 
toOodagiaigiTe 
J,  that,  w^  I W 
b  shaU  be  yours  afl  that  la  wmr 
The  ladr  niade  the  ku^  a  ogn: 
J!b»  knuht  kneeled  fell  oottrtMoelr, 
And  laid,  "Th^  lord,  this  Toong  laify, 
I  will  now  ask  her  for  mj  wsgs. 
And  bsTO  her  into  manufo,  ' 

s  ^K  earl  and  ooontess  readily  gave  ttbeueoQsent.  Itwaswasd 
that  Bir  Qraham  should  receive  her  hand  as  soon  as  he  would 
have  acoomplished  hia.  adreutnre;  and  during  sBren  days,  which 


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S&i  EAX1.T  ZVOUSB   MEtXICAI.  SOIUSCZS. 

wm  enpl^cd  in  wtw^bring  the  ran  of  his  woond,  the  hdmet 
aad  ahiJd  «f  Ot»yit«el  woe  pah&dj  ethibited  at  eoait,  aad  it 
■MwmoaiKad  that  tbe  band  of  Lilliu  was  dertined  to  the  on- 
bown  kni^t  irito  had  revetted  the  death  of  her  brother. 

On  tbe  o^ith  daj  Sir  QralMni  deputed  hefinv  the  dawn,  and, 
btfd&ng  wnh  aD  poasible  expedition,  reached  the  bat  oT  the 
Boutaina  befare  ni^t,  and  had  the  good  fivttme  to  obtain  an 
audkat  lo^iiix  in  a  email  town,  inthebooM  of  a  hargem  whotn 
be  »Tertook  on  Ute  nad.  Here  he  wai  infiwinrd  b;  a  Terr  loqna- 
OOBC  boetcn,  that  hewas  itiS  in  the  land  of  OaDiaa  (Galkiwajt), 
and  that  the  whole  conntiy  between  tbe  mountains  and  tbe  sea 
waadepatdent  on  the  btbo  of  LiBiaa ;  so  Utat  bis  rieep^  it  roaj 
be  pnmmed,  ww  raidered  much  sweeter  bj  tbe  image  of  iua 
annble  numeM.  He  then  was  goiiW  b;  hit  host  to  the  edge  of 
tbe  ntoorianda,  and  tecoTed  bam  him  a  upplf  of  prorisioas  for 
th0  next  foar  daja ;  donng  which,  guiding  hiimwtif  hj  meana  of 
hit  )dd  land^oarfc^  he  ttardled  over  a  deaert  coonb^,  «"*"([ 

great  noontains  on  his  li^t  hand. 

Both  doea  and  loes  dun  and  red. 

And  barti,  ay  cHtii^  np  their  head, 

Batkt  that  brafi,  and  harts  that  bufei,' 

And  bimin  ninuiiv  into  the  fields ; 

And  he  nw  natha  lidt  mar  poor. 

Bat  mooi,  and  Sag,  and  ban  wild  moor. 

So  it  wna,  that  Ibar  days  and  raare, 

be  he  eoold  win  to  St  Eger, 

Who  Uied  into  great  diatre^ 

*Bidinff  at  hone  in  langsamenefi^' 

Iheni  came  he  honie  witbia  tbeni^it. 

And  no  man  got  cJbim  a  ngfat 
Ue  joj  of  Sa  ^er  at  the  retain  of  hii  friend  waa  extiene,  and 
the  lemundei  of  the  night  waa  ahnoet  whoQ;  spent  in  the  tecntal 
ofbu  adfrntoree  in  the  "landof  dMibt,''andintbepriiidpnl  castle 
ef  Oalliai.  At  len^h,  however,  it  became  neoewair  that  Sr 
Gnham  (hoold  letiie  to  hisnpoae:  and  it  wai  agreed  that  Sir 
FUUas  ritoold,  at  tbe  dawn  of  dar,  repair  to  court  to  notify  tbe 

_. c  -v J  o.-  B__    „d  that  the  knight  himadf 

— ^  .  .  __i  hit  amoar,  and  bearing  with 
him  Uie  tro^iaaof  his  rvAorj.  A  retam  bo  triumphant  waa 
hbif  to  cultivate  once  man  the  vain  mind  of  Winhane ;  bat  her 
leret  was  strictly  enjoined  to  treat  her  witb  tbe  same  scorn  whic^ 
•he  had  manifested  towards  him  dorii^  his  misfortonea ;  and  as 
•xperience  had  auw  taoj^t  him  the  necewity  of  encfa  coi^oct.  be 
pwfcnwd  his  part  with  luSciait  a^eritj,  r^ected  tbe  kiv  whii^ 

■Cy. 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


8IB  SOER,  Sm  OBAH&HE,  AlTD  BIS  GBAT-STZEL.       565 

she  offered,  and  loudly  awared  her  before  the  whole  court,  that  & 
heart  go  vud  and  rersatUe  as  hers  was  not  worth  hie  aooeptance. 
Winliane,  equallj  disconcerted  and  latoniihsd  bjthis  reception, 
hastened  with  her  complaints  to  Bir  Oiaham.  "Kj  lord,  ffir 
Eger,"  said  she,  "is  grievously  ofiended  with  me,  but  without 
cause.  If  I  haye  err^  it  was  through  a  natural  and  excusable 
mistake ;  for  how  could  I  miBpect,  when  he  returned  discomfited 
from  the  former  battle,  that  he  was  capable  of  the  briUiant  enter- 
piiae  whioh  he  has  now  achieved?"  Sir  Oraham  hr  from  consol- 
ing her,  answered  with  an  air  of  eompnssion,  that  his  friend 
appeared  to  have  transferred  his  whole  affection  to  the  tadj  whom 
he  had  met  daring  his  first  adventure,  and  who,  havinff  grestlr 
assisted  him  in  this  last  journey,  had  strong  claims  on  his  um  and 
gratitude.  Sir  ^er  entered  the  room,  and  by  his  careless  and 
even  sarcastic  manner  confirmed  her  belief  in  Sir  Graham's  pre- 
tended suspicions ;  and  the  lady,  completely  humbled,  retired  to 
her  chamber  accompanied  by  Sir  FaUias,  who  vainly  attempted  t» 
intercede  with  Sir  Eger  iu  her  favour,  and  who  firmly  believed 
that  she  could  not  long  survive,  onder  the  torment  of  the  conflict- 
ing  passions  by  which  she  was  a^tated. 

Sir  Oraham,  however,  had  no  intention  of  delaying  the  n^otla- 
tion,  bnt  only  meant  to  effect  it  in  his  own  way;  and  directed  Sir 
Sger  to  go  and  amuse  himself  during  some  hours  in  the  forest, 
promising  biirt  at  his  return  the  hand  of  his  mistress,  together 
wkth  complete  and  public  gatis&ction  for  the  affronts  which  Ee  had 
received  from  her.  He  then  repaired  to  Winliane,  and,  after 
alarming  her  by  the  assurance  that  his  friend's  ^ort  expedition 
into  the  foreet  was  only  preparatory  to  his  final  departure,  which 
would  probably  take  pUce  in  a  few  days,  observed  that  she  might 
poesiblj  turn  this  incident  to  heiadv&ntage.  "Sir  Eger,"  said  lie, 
"onoe  loved  yon  most  entirely,  and  I  suspect  that  some  remains 
of  that  passion  still  lurk  within  his  breast,  though  suppressed  by 
pride  and  indignation.  The  insult  which  you  offered  him  was  as 
paUio  at  it  was  cruel  and  nnprovoked ;  let  vour  contrition  be 

Su^j  notorions.  Asaemble  alt  the  ladies  of  the  city ;  put  your- 
If  at  their  head ;  meet  him  in  solemn  procession ;  fall  on  your 
knees  before  him,  and  entreat  his  forgiveness.  Be  assured  that,  if 
your  foolish  pride  do  not  again  interfere,  Sir  Eger  will  be  your 
own."  Winliane,  who  had  lost  all  hopes  of  attaining  the  great 
object  of  her  life  bj  marrying. a  hero,  eagerly  accepted  the  condi- 
tions, and  executed  them  most  scrupulously.  The  wedding  was 
eonclu^d  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  was  followed,  as  usi^  by 
a  series  of  festivities  which  tasted  during  a  fbrtnight. 

Sir  Graham,  having  thus  secured  the  happiness  of  his  friend, 
became  anxious  to  fulfil  his  own  engagements  with  the  amiable 
IdUias.  But  it  was  impoMible  tiiat  he  should  depart  unobserved, 
and  it  was  difficult  to  invent  a  jdaonbte  raaaon  for  quitting  his 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


£66  ZUU.T  xirauiH  xxxbicai.  soicAiross. 

"Imtlier  in  uaa**  ftt  lucfa  a  moment,  withovt  «xdting  inqBdoM 
in  tlw  mind  <J  WinUaiM.  But  the  knigbt  had  ftraaean  the  diffi- 
eoItiM^  Mvd  hi(inTentiTeg«nhii  h«d  deviaedn  ibstagem  b; which 
tli«T  mre  rffectuallj  remoTcd. 

Kr  Eg«r  WM  dinoted  to  inform  hia  bride,  in  leeming  oon- 
fiduM,  tha^  dniing  hit  lut  ocpedition  a^unit  Sir  Gnj-«te>d,  1m 
hnd  bound  hmadf  oj  «  tow  to  rctam  into  that  coont^,  «c  to 
find  KDM  good  knigbt  as  bit  mbttitnte,  for  Hm  poipoae  of  aceovf 
^BchiaganadnmtareofgteatinqiaTtanoetotheneintaof  OaDiM. 
WittbuM,  tbarefcff^  MupootinK  that  thit  Mf  wm  Ae  rival  to 
whom  Sit  Qnham  had  often  aUuded,  waa  ver^  anziou  to  diicrt 
het  boalMnd  from  the  prcgeet  ^  tnaVnig  tkia  dangaroui  Tint,  and 
Mmaatlj  entieated  him  to  entnut  the  adventnre  to  Sir  Pallias; 
b«t  ESt  Bger  having  obaerred  that  hit  brother,  dunigfa  loffident^ 
bnTa,  wai  too  fond  erf  [deaiun,  and  partioularlj  too  mncb  addiotM 
to  vine,  for  aaoh  an  important  oomtniatioo,  and  that  Sir  Orahau 
alone  oonld  bo  tmated  at  hit  mbatitnte,  the  readTed  to  pemiads 
Sir  Orahun,  if  potnble,  to  aooapt  it.    She  offered  him  anjr  portion 


of  her  father's  treaeuret  which  he  mifbt  ttiink  neoeaany  for  the 
joumej,  together  with  at  manj  ntten&nta  m  he  might  require ; 
and,  when  the  kw  him  depart  at  the  bead  o(  a  eplenoid  retinue. 


rqfoloed  not  a  tittle  at  the  vuoeeat  of  her  n^odation. 

Sir  Oraham,  after  a  protperona  ionnier,  urived  at  the  atj  of 
GariMe,  the  roaidence  M  liit  amialue  miatreat;  and,  hanng  IcA 
&r  Bn^  hit  attendant  knight,  together  with  hit  fifty  tqniret,  at 
the  inn  which  be  had  fbrmerly  ooon^ed,  prooeeded  with  hii  host 
to  the  bower  of  Idlliai.  On  the  followi^  morning  he  manrfiedat 
ttte  head  of  hit  eompanj  to  heu  mats,  and  to  paj  liis  ooort  witii 
heeoming  deEEireiioe  to  the  oar]  and  oounteas,  who  rwmved  him 
with  unoere  tatiafiictioa,  and  at  the  expbation  of  a  few  di^t, 
which  were  empiojed.  in  making  preparationi  for  the  nuptiUL 
hoEtowed  oa  liim  the  hand  of  titeir  lovelj  Uid  sooomjdithea 
dlaughter.  The  wedding  waa  followed,  as  neual  hj  magni&oent 
tounianMntt,  and  the  rejoioingt  throi^fhaut  the  earl't  dominiona 
were  uniTerml  and  tinoere ;  liit  Bubjeots  anticipatiug  the  pKmpvA 
of  manj  yean  of  glarj  and  eoouritj  under  the  protection  of  the 
invindble  Sir  QraEam. 

Nothing  waa  now  retjuiaite  to  ((ratify  cTerr  with  of  hia  h«art, 
bat  the  oomjiany  of  hit  fiiend  Sir  Egor,  who,  on  reoeiTiiig  the 
fint  intimation  of  hia  dedre,  ooUeot^  a  compan;?  of  >  hundiod 
—'—a  and  Imighta,  departed  with  hia  belOTed  Winhane  for  (Hr- 
*  omedbTaaer'      ''  


than  the  ooontir  of  Qalliaa  had  ever  before  witnneacd.  Her 
titerefore  it  should  eaem  that  the  author  would  have  done  well  t 
■wiae,  and  we  mo 

'  of  the  two  Man 

j„.„^L,  Cookie 


teiminate  his  recital;  but  he  Iiad  judged  oiherwiae,  and  w 
OndeaTour  to  follow  him  to  the  oonoliuicn. 
The  Mane  of  jof  whioh  fbllowed  the  maatinr  of  the  two  fiienda 


SIB  EOEB,  SIB  QBAHAME,  AXV  Biic  <t&^T-STE£L.       £67 

wu  Buddenlj  intenupted  bj  the  iUnees  of  Sir  0»ham ;  and  so 
rm[^  was  the  progren  of  the  diaeu^that  &  few  days  eosduoted 
him  to  his  grave.  The  tender  and  aaeotionate  LiUias,  exhausted 
hT  the  &tigue  of  inoeMuit  watchiiu,  and  stuimed  bj  the  weight 
of  this  itremediable  oftUmitjN  beheld  the  prepuatioiu  for  Ids 
fiuieral  in  mleut  aogniih,  sim  seemed  neuly  as  Hfeleaa  at  the 
oorpse  wbicb  waa  deposited  in  the  ^ve ;  but  the  impetuous  Kt 
Eger,  jdelding  to  the  violenoe  of  hu  gne^'thiew  himself  on  thtt 
bodj  witlilott3  ezdamatiotiB,  and  th^i  proeeeded  to  jnstiiy  the 
ezosssof  his  sorrow  l^idati^tliewbde  extent  of  bis  obii^tiom 
to  Kr  Oraham,  the  n»l  eououeroT  of  Qniy-steel,  whose  generodtj 
was  still  more  unexampled  than  his  Talour.  Nothing  could  exceed 
the  astonishment  and  mdiguation  of  Winliane  at  this  unexpected 
TsdtaL  St»  knidbf  wotesled  that  she  conid  not  forgive  herself 
ftrharing,  though  unVmnrinol;,  ahsred  the  bed  of  a  beaten  cham- 
{non  -,  that  she  henoeforth  atgtmd  hie  oompanj  for  ever ;  that  she 
Aoaii  now  earrr  her  shame  and  mis^  to  a  religiouB  bouse,  and 
billed  to  be  freea  yj  a  KMedf  death  from  the  hated  recollection  oF 
her  hosband.    This  wim  was  fulfilled ;  and  .before  the  end  of  two 


billed  to  be  freea  yj  a  KMedf  death  fi«m  the  hated  recollection  oF 
her  hosband.  This  wim  was  fulfilled ;  and  .before  the  end  of  two 
jsan  she  exnred  in  a  eomnt.  In  the  mean  time  Sir  %er, 
•oaroelj  oonsoMos  of  h<r  alwenoe,  bat  inoonsoUble  for  the  loss  of 
Us  fHend,  detomised  to  bev  anns  against  the  infidels.  He  re- 
'ired  to  Brane,  reorived  the  iiap«I  absohttiou,  passed  over  to  the 
'    '  Rhodes,  sMm  raised  hiauelf  b;  his  Takur  to  the  c 


S^adofB 

nandof  the  (Smstisn  tnaj,  and  during  two  BucceanTe  namfij™ 
obtained  so  maoy  biiHiant  Tiotories,  that  all  Europe  reBounded 
with  the  hme  of  his  talents  and  aucoeaa.  But  ndther  wealth  rav 
dorj  could  oompensate  for  the  death  of  his  friend.  He  resigned 
Us  command,  and  retvmed  towards  his  own  country;  but,  baring 
kMid  <m  tat  mad  tits  ftte  ef  Winhan^  repaired  to  the  capital  of 
Qillias,  where  he  finmd  in  the  ami  able  Lillias  a  companion  in  his 
giM,  into  was  alwmTs  teadf  to  e:qpatiiite  on  the  merits  of  the 
Monmplished  9r  draham.  hj  degiws  the  two  mourners  b^an 
to  IM  that  eadi  wss  less  miseraUe  when  the  other  was  present ; 
tnd  as  one  <ml7  means  oeonned  to  prevent  &eir  future  sepavatioa, 
and  to  pteserre  the  lidi  and  on^otected  widow  from  the  addressee 
of  imuurtunate  snitois,  tber  tauUr  uieed  to  unit«  their  hands 
sad  foTtnnea.  The  author  condu£s  by  beseeching  "Jeans, 
httven's  king," 

To  mat  them  grace,  and  good  to  speiu^ 
Ana  ia/n  Kja,  mule  their  utter  end! 


giiizcdt*  Google 


SIR  DEOORE. 


*  B  af  tnnfc  aatiqintj,  hon^  feMHtil  im  Ae  J>«iliiiihi.l 
^iiwd  m  Bubop   Pmj'a  toSa*.    The  fcUowng 
k  truioipt  of  die  Uwk  letter  ca]^  ia  Ganid'a 
ODBeetioa.   bj  W.  Cajduil;   eoBtnunx  996  Hue      The  title  in     the 
~     Efcj— ».  i.  f..  D^«^,  or 
■  Ite  ndKir  bdb  H,  K 
E  DO)  '■ 

eXMHTdf  fend  oC 

., to  him  to  be  oro^ 

ttrowB,  Mid  hft  was  ■■iimiil  hf  t™"****^  hn  •dvemriea  into  the 
doat  His  bre  of  thb  Tecnatioa  wu  ontj  eqnaOed  I7  hia  aSee- 
tm>  for  hk  onfy  dangliter,  ajmmgbdjof  eupisite  b«wttr ;  ^nd 
■a  mmberiea  kinga,  prinoea,  and  knb  wctb  mdooed  to  Mcoma 
kersuitMa,  partly  oo  aooooiit  of  her  dtanna  and  aeoompliaiiinenta, 
kod  puttf  ~ftw  lore  of  h^  cieat  heritage^"  be  oontriTed  to gra^ 
tify  both  his  tastes  at  oock,  oj  "™H'T[  a  deaee,  that  no  man 
ahuold  Koaie  the  hand  of  the  princeaa  until  be  bad  jnsted  with 
the  king,  and  eaasEd  him  to  lose  his  Etiiraps.  In  a  diort  time 
these  woe  few  posMn  of  £sttnetiiHi  in  Eorope  wbo  had  not  been 
luhaned  by  tfae  fcii^  of  Eo^aiid ;  and  tlie  well-wi^i^B  to  the 
Ur  priDcess  began  to  ^^a«bend  that  she  would  vitb  difficnltj 
find  a  hniband. 

Tbe  king,  it  may  be  presomed,  never  heard  this  mognostie,  and 
was  by  no  means  impatient  for  the  marriage  of  his  oaagbter.  Het 
wamay  constded  bim  for  the  want  of  her  mother.  Who  bad  lost 
bo'nleiD  briwing  her  into  the  world,  and  whom  be  regretted  to 
sincerdj  that  he  nerer  conld  be  indoced  to  eatv  n^  a  second 
nairiage.    He  bad  eren  institated  .  -   -  ■     . 


belored  wifo  were  interred,  and  spent  the  day  in  prajen  for  her 
soul,  and  in  acta  ofcbaritj  to  the  poor. 

On  oae  (^  these  oecasirais  the  princes,  who,  with  her  atte□dant^ 
fonned  the  rear  of  the  procesMWi.  mddenly  called  to  her  ctuunber- 

._■_  j._    .^..     »...!. ^  >  part  of  hn  diui, 

f  her  hone,    like 


>  AnMber  rapj  a  ia  US.  Cuitab.  FT.  iL  38.  ■  By 

the  ■athoT  does  not  Kera  to  man  i^  kin^  of  tlw  whole  iabiuL     Htt 
btfotn  da  Dot  ana  the  ■■>.  bat  only  tnrd  m  kjOR  my  to  the  wertnid. 


j„..;uL,  Cookie 


iiK  SEOOBt.  569 

SeHaj  wu  Bhort;  Int  thej  were  tnveOiii^  thnmrii  a  forect,  m 
that  they  had  soon  lost  sight  of  the  procession;  andinadTerCentlj 
taking  a  wrong  road,  ana  quickening  their  pttc^  the;  were  oom- 
pletely  bewildered  before  thej  diacovered  their  error.  There  wm 
now  no  resouroe  but  to  atop  and  listen.  The  weather  wu  in- 
tensely hot.  They  alighted,  and  laid  down  on  the  grass.  By 
d^^rees  their  attention  slackened,  and  they  all  fell  akleep,  ex- 
oeptitig  the  prinoeas,  who,  delight«d  by  the  songs  of  the  biiu^  and 
attmoted  by  the  beauty  of  the  wild  plants  by  which  ahe  waa  oar- 
rounded,  wandered  &om  flower  to  flower,  and,  insensibly  losing 
her  way  a  second  time,  found  heraeif  quite  alone  in  the  niibt  rf 
a  trecUess  solitude.  Bbe  wu  now  dr^liilly  alarmed,  and  began 
to  apprehend  that  the  beasts  of  the  forest  woold  shortly  seize  and 
devour  her,  when  ahe  beheld  a  atnAger  knirht  in  a  sntendid 
hnnting-dr^,  who  advandng  towards  her,  decured  that  he  had 
long  been  in  lore  with  her,  and  that,  finding  ber  thus  in  bJB 
power,  he  was  det«nnined  to  nae  the  opportnnity,  and  to  treat  bw 
as  his  mistress.  Her  ecreama  and  reautanoe  were  equally  ineF- 
fectuaL  and  the  audacions  stranger,  haTing  accomplished  his  pur~ 
poM,  thus  addreasad  her: 

He  said,  "Madame,  gentU  and  &ee. 
With  child  I  wot  wdl  that  ye  be. 
WeU  I  wot  it  shall  he  a  knave ; 
Therefore  my  swerde  he  shall  have, 
My  good  swerde  of  ameaunt ;' 
For  therewith  I  slew  a  geaunt. 
I  brake  the  point  in  his  heved, 
And  in  the  lield  1  it  leaved. 
Dame,  take  it  up ;  lo  it  is  here ; 
For  thou  Bpeakest  not  with  me  this  many  a  year. 
And  yet,  peraventDTe,  time  may  come. 
That  I  ma^  speak  with  my  son, 
And  by  this  swerde  I  may  him  ken." 
He  kissed  his  love,  and  wente  then. 
The  princes^  stunified  with  terror  and  astoniahment^  gaied  in 
nlenoe  on  her  ravisher,  till  the  trees  concealed  him  from  her  sight: 
and  then,  picking  up  the  sword  which  had  coat  her  so  dear,  en- 
deavoured to  eiplore  the  way  to  her  companions,  and  fortunatdy 
found  them  still  immersed  in  a  deep  sleep.    It  was  neoesaary,  in 
the  first  place,  to  compoao  her  countenance,  and  to  conceal  under 
her  robe  the  Mai  sword ;  after  which  she  amJceiwd  her  chamber- 
lain and  her  mudens,  ordered  them  to  mount,  md,  bavinK  shortly 
encountered  some  of  the  messengers  whom  the  king  had  diroeraed 
through  the  forest  in  search  of  her,  was  at  length  lafely  conducted 
'  Probably  a  miitike  for  adamamt,  bat  the  Cuabridge  OHniiucript  reads 


uL,  Cookie 


S70  EAXLT  KXGUSH  mruCAi,  koxaxces. 

ta&e(^>4  asi  froH  ttewe  acooni|Miiied  I17  l^r  Mbn  to  tbe 

ttdJuylBiwrfttM  iliMil  I  ma  day  »ge  n  obtasa^taaA 
m  tfaa  Uj't  iMoOeetioi,  that  wbeo  ahandoaed  to  aolitade  aad 
dbaet,  rinalBMt  irtimraiH  hfrttitf  that  the  whole  vas  do  mora 
IfeMB  a  UkUU  dRBB.  Bat  the  nrcnd  lanii^  in  hs  poan- 
^on,  an  miiffriiiMf  witnev  to  the  truth.  She  abo  bow  n- 
ttiflvctvA  that  the  knjgfat  b^  thrown  nto  htf  boaon  a  pair  of 
rigfH  iMiiiiH  h«-  at  the  nine  time  that  Hmj  woe  OMbaBted. 
She  fit  than  on,  and  foand  that  the?  adapted  thenadiw  to  tha 
ih^a  of  hv  baud  m»  kaa  aocoiaU^  than  the  skin  whkli  Otj 
Kweiadi  Bor  waait  Im^  bybte  die  waa  coavineed,  bf  a  tiain  A 
^■|ilfM  whidi  eoiid  Dut  be  widateit,  that  ba  tandbet  bai 
tfnetlf  ndbceed  to  tiuh  in  aMning  ber  of  ber  pRgoancT. 

To  eacane  datactioo.  withont  *1m*  aniatance  of  an  aflM)in|J»*'^^. 
^■mU  W^  Imj^i  iBBOsQile;  die  tluralbn  ffTn*iwnic  ■  *  iw  t^^ 
<mt  «£  her  danacl^  who  diortb  noTe 

fSA^t^  iw  ■Ai|#iM  Mrt^  ■^■llti|Jiwl    oil 

■  waa  actuBT  de)iTia«d  of  a  kd  wttboat  haTinc 
■HntthemaOeitdesKeofn^ciDD.  Thedald 
WM  iHtentlT  vuuwjtd  to  the  danads  MpattiaaiX,  where  it  wm 
neUr  diaaed  and  pbeed  in  a  vadle,  togedia-  with  the  pair  <i 
^orca.  twartjpoundaof  pM  and  toi  poondi  of  nlm-.  Todiew 
mtmni  nf  ■iiiiiiiii,  fm  hii  ihilit  ■  fiiminHd  rin|itiiiii  the  oirfiil 


Do  Uh  be  christened  of  piKatea  hand ! 
And  to-Wv  hiia  to  Ureinland, 
hoc, 

of  tu^it,  whoi,  Bh  aTiiift 


Forhe  k  Mne  of  genta  Ud 
Ue  daaad  vcdr  waited  fcr  Um  boor 
ft^  te  Iiahnr.  i*e  ogn«ej«d  the  chiU  in  its  cradle  to  the  dov 


qn^illj'  ia  tha  ni^t  to  his  ftmjm,  was  Kkelr  to  hear  the  fint 
^n^ ti Om bAmL.  tnfaet,  he  didao:  and,  haring panHed  tbt 
kttv,  and  oaitfillf'  lo^ed  np  rifc*  riovaa  *"*t  t^  okon^.  chria- 
Ined  tlie  child  b|r  the  name  of  Degore  and  coiiTe^  it  to  tha 
fantue  of  hit  liutij,  wbo  redded  in  a  neq^btniiiig  town,  fir  the 

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porpoH  of  being  nnrtared.  Hwe  the  Im^  remuned  ten  jvxa, 
after  nhich  he  mi  weal  bftok  to  the  beimitage ;  where  the  hennit 
"  famght  him  of  derke'a  lor«"  dorinff  Um  more  ^ean,  and  then, 
having  revuled  to  him  the  MOet  of  liie  linrth,  uid  given  him  dw 
glowe  Mid  the  money  whidireiMuHed  after  deftiiyiiig  the  orpeoBi 
ofhii  educatHw,  diimiised  hiin  with  hii  bcnedietion,  and  advieed 
him  to  qtaie  no  puna  in  learchmg  for  hi«  &tiier. 

The  youth  had  received  from  lutiue  an  athletic  frame,  and  had 
aoqniiM  rtreugth  and  aotivitr  by  ooDEtaut  exenriae  and  ezposnie 
to  the  weather  daring  hia  nutio  educadon  in  the  fbreit.  He  had 
been  well  inBtruoted  by  the  bermit  in  hia  Teligioos  datiet,  txA 
even  in  the  laws  and  oostoms  of  oourtegy ;  but  the  good  man  had 
been  unaUe  to  teaoh  him  the  exercises  of  chivalry  from  the  want 
vf  ft  {ff^MT  NJt  of  annonr,  vtib  which,  however,  he  advioed  him 
to  piOTide  himaelf  at  the  first  convetuent  opportuni^.  In  the 
mean  Unw  J^tgfai  was  anned  with  a  ponderoiu  and  Juujtt^  oluh^ 
ft  weiqKHi  Ml  whidi  he  placed,  not  without  reaaonj  omuiaeiaUe 
rehaaoe;  andbehftdacareelywlvanoedadft^s  manditliroughthe 
foreet,  when  he  had  the  mod  fortune  to  duoover  a  knigb^  of  a 
noble  appearance,  engaged  in  mngle  oombat  witli  a  huge  mgon. 

Then  was  there  a  diagon  great  and  grim, 

Full  of  fir^  and  aleo  veuym. 

With  a  wide  throat  and  tiunee  great, 

Upon  that  kniKht  fMt  gan  he  oni: 

And  ae  a  lion  th^  waa  hit  feet, 

Hi8  tail  wai  long  and  full  unmeet. 

Between  his  head  and  hia  tail 

Was  twen^-two  fbol^  withonten  bSL 

Bis  body  wa«  like  ft  wine-tun, 

Be  shone  fiill  brifjht  against  the  mo. 

His  eyen  were  ha^t  m  any  g^os^ 

Hit  tcftlea  were  hud  as  any  brass; 

And  therato  he  was  necked  like  »  hraw; 

He  hare  his  heaA  up  with  great  foroe. 

Hm  breath  of  bit  mouth  that  did  out  blow, 

As  it  had  been  a  fire  on  low.' 

He  was  to  look  oil  as  I  yon  tell, 

As  it  had  been  a  devil  of  hoU. 
The  kniglit  had  defended  himaelf  for  scone  time  with  grsit 
Intnpidityi  bat  as  hit  sword  made  no  im{H«aaion  on  the  dragon% 
Mftlei,  he  waa  ooaqtelled  to  implore  the  aanttanoeof  Degor^;  who, 
insttottly  stepptng  fbrward,  hepa  to  nidgel  the  monster  with  nuit 
iftpidlty,  that,  though  the  scales  still  lerated,  they  were  unable  to 
jnuaerfu  him  from  a  nnmbw  of  very  disagrsaaUe  bruises.  33ie 
Tenth  indeed  was  much  anncmd  1^  his  •nemy't  long  t^  widak 
aiud  lam  ■ewetj':  bat  having  tnoooitivdy  Itrakes  the  uimal^ 
*  AtnellbillorsmlaRm 

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rCA^  BOXUKTBE. 


9-  «Ttk  the  hmnd  of  the  chT*  «alj  i    _ 
''  ^.~  aid  he^  **  let  ae  we  roar  fair  ^— g*-*— ,  and  aj 


I  pair  of  gtmci,  wfaidi  I  cwryin  Bf 


ij  of  dK«,  can  pet  OB  a 

L  B7  pocket,  I  wiD  aeccpt 

take  m*  ksTe."    n*  e^mimart  was 


r  wni^Mit  TIICOC9B ;  and  the  jMing  adnntatB'  d 
mnz.  M  the  iTward  of  hit  Miiion.  the  ndcr  of  K 
■■cmUeat  war^xm^ft  aMBpieteiah  nf  tnii-iir  ■  pagr  rri  irtril 
kBk.  and  a  palfin'. 

OiDtnniing  km  prograa  tkroogli  the  famt.he  at  I^C^  ™^ 
(ke  hoakb  bvn  the  king  of  BngUod,  who.  it  iii  i  mi,  had  tda  om- 
tin<i«d  t<>  JQjt  wiih  «^ ■■■-»  ■»!>■■—  «.mI  wfc.—  .I..i|*tj^  |—  Hp_ 
afktr  an  imerTal  of  tscntj  lean,  had  eesMd  to  attiaet  imA 

■  aiT«4of  soitacs,  Sv  D^orc  bsteBcd  «ith  great  intoat  to  Aa 
tedLkl  of  the  kuir*  loos  ■iiiwiim  of  lictariea. 

And  thoojfat.  *-  He  via  a  dio^t}-  naa! 

And  I  an  m  ^  Towa  blood. 

And  1  haic  hone  and  annoor  goai, 

And.  »•  1  trow^  a  fed  good  (teed; 

I  «iil  »aT  if  I  miT  ipnd  •. 

An  I  war  besie  the  ku^  d^nra, 

1  nar  be' a  nan  of  rest  reoown ; 

And  if  that  he  me  fefl  can. 

Tboc  knoweth  no  body  what  I  aK. 

Death  or  life.  That  n  betule, 

1  win  nnceagainM  him  ride!** 
Harin^   f>fined  the   leaululjuu.  he  lode  into  the  eilv.   >a^ 
kniis^  taken  np  hi>  inn.  aoit  iiii  page  to  the  king,  to  m^at  the 
koBDOT  of  the  epobat.    The  diallenge  «aa  jojIiiU;  accepted,  md 
the  nen  daj  appointed  tm  the  atamnta. 

On  the  knigbt'*  appeaianee  in  the  Km&  it  waa  ioiiDediitdr 
admitted  t>*  the  king:  and  by  all  tbe  aaaemUj.  that  the  prin  M 
■enr  nl  been  diiiwlwt  br  a  cfaampion  «f  so  modi  jroniiK.  Sr 
Deyr*.  tppsoonaof  hia  ineapetiem»,  and  diffident  of  hi*  Mvength. 
btn  petsuJed  that  the  ennt  of  *  t«anai«nt  vn  aha;;*  ^nded 
br  the  paiticniar  iuMtpuaition  c€  Hcaivn,  had  ^nmtlv  ■riiiahd 

■  ■in  and  hamUf  cArcd  three  florina  to  the  three  posou  of  tte 
tiinitT. — in  p^osMtaaice  of  which  be  feh  oinfidoit  of  ticton; 
■rhikt  the  kinc.  loiu;  atcMttomed  to  oonqnest,  and  ptetmaii^  im 
the  Bisal  ^ects  of  his  iiuli  lih  ii  AiU  and  vignor.  no  les  eonfi- 
denth  anticipBted  an  cmj  trinniph.  fv  Degure  rcoand  on  Irii 
(hiekl  the  int  lance  of  Ui  a^diant,  without  being  at  all  mi«(4 
thoMgh  hiaown  haeewaa  bd  iU  directed  that  it  tutallj  failed  of 

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BIK  DEQOBB.  573 

its  effect.  His  Koond  attempt  was  not  mora  forttmate;  for  he 
•gkin  missed  his  blow,  and  received  the  king'i  weapon  againBt  hia 
breast ;  his  hone  was  suddenlj'  stopped  ia  hu  charEe,  iwed,  and 
was  near  tailing  bockwArda  on  his  nder.  At  the  tnird  career  he 
took  traer  aim  ;  the  two  champione  met  at  Ml  epeed,  and  their 
Bpearo  thiTered  in  their  hands.  The  kin^  norr  lost  his  temper, 
and  with  it  lost  all  his  advantage :  seizing  a  more  ponderoua 
lance,  and  epiuring  forward  with  Uind  precipitation,  ne  miewd 
'  sir  Deeord  in  his  turn,  and  was  thrown,  tc^ether  with  his  horse, 
Bome  distance  on  the  groond. 

The  numerous  spectatorB  were  mucli  astonished,  and  the 
princess  seriousl]'  alarmed  bj  this  nnexpeoted  termination  of  the 
combat ;  but  the  king  himself,  true  to  the  word  which  he  hsd 
pledged  before  hia  barons,  courteousl;  asaured  Sir  D^;or^,  whom 
ne  accosted  b;  the  name  of  "  fitir  son,"  that,  if  bis  birth  and 
education  corresponded  with  his  prowess,  he  should  be  happy  in 
bestowing  on  micti  a  man  the  hand  of  his  daughter,  t<^ther  with 
the  right  of  snocesdon  to  all  his  dominions.  He  then,  with  the 
same  firanknea^  proceeded  to  the  eieeation  of  his  promise,  and 
led  the  parties  from  the  place  of  combat  to  the  cathedral,  where 
tita  knight  was  solemnly  married  to  his  own  mother.  A  magni- 
fioeut  Kinquet  was  prepared  in  the  great  ball,  where  the  guests 
were  as  noble,  and  the  minstrels  as  numerous  and  noisy,  as  usual; 
and  at  the  doee  of  this  day  of  fatigue  and  festivity,  the  monarch, 
having  accompanied  the  married  couple  to  the  bndal  apartment, 
mm  preparing  to  leave  them,  when  Si  I>egf>r4  uttered  an  exclama- 
ti(m  of  grief  and  horror, 

And  said  anon,  with  heavy  cheer, 
"He  had  liever  than  all  my  kingdom  dear, 

That  now  is  seized  into  my  hand. 

That  I  werefELire  out  of  this  lana!" 

As  such  a  q>eeoh,  on  saoh  an  occanon,  was  rather  enigmatioal, 
and  by  no  means  flattering,  the  king  naturally  inquired  whether 
there  was  any  ciroumstance  at  which  he  had  taken  offence;  and 
the  youth  answered,  that  he  had  made  a  vow  not  to  marry  any 
woman  who  oonld  not  put  on  a  certain  pair  of  gloves,  which  he 
usually  carried  about  him.  Sow  the  laws  of  chivwry  peremptorily 
required  the  accomplishment  of  a  vow,  though  it  should  not  lie 
very  oonsonant  to  common  sense ;  and  as  it  was  natural  that  the 
young  knight,  at  the  time  of  leaving  bis  inn,  shonid  hare  been 
solely  occupied  about  fighting  his  adversary,  whoee  hands  the 
loves  could  not  possibly  fit,  and  should  have  therefore  n^lected 
to  take  them  witn  him,  courtesy  required  that  the  king  should 
patiently  expect  their  arrival.  He  did  so;  and  no  sooner  were 
they  produced,  than  the  princess,  having  drawn  them  on  with 
great  eaae,  M  down,  and  b^an  to  erj, 

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L,  Google 


SIS  DEOOSi. 

Twttin  of  dnm  bowes  did  hmr, 

And  two  of  tham  dutrgtd  wore 

WUh  TamNmtlut  was  ftiil  food. 

Then  Sir  IMnire  iq)  itood, 

And  blMiadQiMa  aoMi-n^ ; 

Bat  thej  s^dke  not  to  the  Wgh^ 

But  want  into  the  duimber  mkxi. 

And  ahntte  the  door  full  soon. 

And  anon  afier,  theiewkhid, 

'Bum  oame  a  dwaif  into  ibe  haO; 

Four  bot  WM  the  IcBgtli  of  him, 

Hi>  TisaM  ma  both  great  and  gcim; 

Atwi  the  naic  that  on  ^"f  haad  irait 

It  looked  u  vellow  doth  in  a  das. 

mth  milk-whito  Uoe  and  gocdb  UaB,> 

Bat  fuU  ttoottr  then  looked  ha 

Be  wan  a  fDrooat  Oat  was  neat, 

With  Uannahameer'  it  waa  Sured  I  vmd. 

He  was  w^  dad  and  w«U  dona ; 

Aa  a  knj^if  ■  was  cTO<Aed  hia  ihwa.* 

He  waa  large,  both  of  foot  and  hamd,* 

Aa  ai^  nan  waa  ui  that  land. 

Sir  DegoH  looked  on  him  tbo. 

And  to  bim  reveraioe  did  6a, 

And  he  to  him  would  apeak  no  word, 

Bnt  made  him  raa^  tolajtiiebeBde: 

He  bud  the  oloth,  and  eat  iortb  bnad, 

And  abo  wine,  both  white  andied. 

TonAes  in  the  ball  he  did  li^t, 

AH  thii^ieadf  to  sappa  ha  di^t. 

And  aoou  after,  with  gtEst.boncnr, 

There  oame  a  te^  oat  ofbugb— «,* 

And  with  her  eane  maidoM  fifteMi, 

8o«w  in  red,  and  aoma  in  graai. 

Eir  Dagn<  Mowed  aiioi»i^t; 

And  noaglrt  dte  apoka  nnto  (he  bs^i^ 

B«t  jada  and  WMOMd  evefrdMB^ 

And  to  aumer  nn  thn  gonc; 

nie  ladj  waa  iSr  and  bngfat ; 

In  Oe  midat  of  tbe  del  ibe  eat  Anra  right; 


B  enn  tfde  lat  maidena  Art, 
air  and  goodly,  ar  '"-■  ~  -•"* 


Fairai 
'  CoiintciiiDoe.  ■  Wtek  Bid  wUte  ftw,  lIoKii*  «f  ntrt  (Mfcv). 

*  TImm  dum,  wlncli  bacnne  ftduoBaUo  ia  the  inpi  Of  Eitmid  IL, 
cm  to  poiot  ont  &s  dite  of  the  oiighnl  nmaNe. 
*I  belime  AM  thns  jihnan  mcaa  that  rtw  dwarf  ww  "Ucril  and 


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576  EABLY   ENOtlBH  METSICAL  BOMAKOBS. 

"  By  God !"  then  nud  Sr  Degor^, 

"  I  have  ;ou  blesaed,  and  you  not  me '. 
Bat  you  seem  dumb,  by  Saint  Johan ! 
I  sbidl  make  you  epeab,  and  I  can." 

Htring  formed  this  reEolulion,  tho  knight  took  liu  seat  imme- 
diatd]^  opposito  the  lady,  and  began  to  Burvey  her  with  great 
Attcntbn.  Hitherto  he  had  thought  little  aboutwomen,  but  &oin 
iiua  moment  he  oould  think  of  little  else.  Though  BuSdentlj 
hanrrj,  he  had  not  leisure  to  eat,  being  ftilly  occupied  in  gazing 
on  &«  mo«t  beautiiiil  &oe  that  be  had  ever  seen,  and  he  gradu^jr 
became  reconciled  to  the  geuend  aileDce,  because  it  gave  no  inter- 
ruption to  this  amusement.  At  length,  however,  supper  ended, 
and  the  lady  and  her  damsels  having  washed  as  uauu,  retired  to 
their  apartments.  "  Truly,"  said  Sir  l>egoTe,  "  I  will  foUoK' 
them,  and  look  on  that  lad^  so  long  as  I  ehall  think  fit ;  and  the 
man  who  shall  attempt  to  interrupt  my  pleasure  shall  suffer  for 
his  interfereuoe."  With  these  words  he  went  in  pursuit  of  his 
mistresB,  who,  entering  her  chamber,  sat  down  on  the  bed,  and 
tocA  up  hei  harp.  Sir  Stgore'  seated  himself  by  her,  and  listened 
to  the  Bounds  of  the  harp,  which  he  thought  the  sweetest  and 
most  soothing  sounds  that  he  had  ever  heard.  Their  bewitching 
tffeet  was  such,  that  in  a  few  minutes  he  fell  last  asleep  ;  when 
the  lady,  havii^  ordered  her  attendants  to  cover  him  up  warm, 
retired  to  another  roon^  and  left  him  to  his  slumbers. 

At  the  dawn  of  day  she  returned  into  his  chamber,  and  having 
wakened  him,  took  the  liberty  of  ridiculiiig  him  for  the  want  of 
gallantry  which  he  had  Hhowu  by  sleeping  sosoundly,  Hekni^t 
excused  himself  as  well  as  he  oould,  and  then  insisted  that  as  she 
had  recovered  dnring  the  night  the  use  of  her  tongue,  she  shoold 
now  eiplain  to  him  the  reaaons  of  all  the  etrange  appearanoes 
which  ho  had  witnessed  einoe  his  arrival  at  her  castle.  She  replied, 
that  if  she  had  before  abstained  from  speaking,  it  was  because  her 
calamities  were  snch  as  it  was  scarcely  in  the  power  of  any  single 
knight  to  avert.  "  My  father,"  continued  she,  "  was  a  rich  baron ; 
and  being  his  heiress,  with  some  share  of  beauty,  I  was  addressed 
by  many  lovers,  one  of  whom  was  a  huge  and  fero^ous  giant, 
whom,  on  account  of  his  most  excessive  ugliness,  it  was  impossible 
to  love ;  but  he  has  determined  to  obtain  mv  hand  by  f6t«e,  and 
has  already  exterminated  all  my  male  vassals,  excepting  the  sorry 
dwarf  whom  you  have  ^eady  seen."  At  these  words  she 
swooned:  but,  being  recovered  by  her  damsels,  cast  on  Sir  Degore 
a  look  of  such  bewitching  tenderness,  that  in  a  transport  of  love 
he  vowed  to  become  her  knight,  and  to  defend  her  from  the 
caresses  of  her  monstrous  admirer.  It.  was  true  that  he  had  pre- 
viously vowed  to  find  bis  father ;  but,  as  he  reaolved  to  lose  as 
little  time  as  possible  in  killing  the  giant,  he  hoped  to  be  almost 
immediately  at  leisure  to  achieve  the  other  adventure  ;  his  mi>- 


toaM  bftTing  rmdilT  promiMd  to  bestow  on  him  her  hand  andfor- 
tane  whenever  it  uioiild  roit  his  conTetiieam  to  clum  them. 

Ymj  fwtonktelj  for  the  completion  of  the  knight's  projects, 
the  mrastsr  nwde  his  sppeennce  beiow  the  castle  walls  at  ^ 
akwec^thieoanTersatioD.  Sir  Degor^  hastily  pnt  on  hisarmoor, 
mounted  hii  horse,  caneed  the  mawbridge  to  be  kwered,  and, 
baring  croeted  it,  rode  at  fUU  epeedto  meet  hisiiyaL  Bnt  asthia 
was  the  first  giant  whom  he  had  erei  enxnmterod,  be  had  not 
prt^erljr  estimated  the  advantage  whida  the  moniter  derived  fronf* 
nig  enormous  mass.  The  laneea  of  both  diam^ona  were  ahivered; 
tnt  the  horae  of  Sir  Degi^  bad  his  back  bnAen  bj  the  sbo^ 
md  his  ri<kr  came  to  the  ground.  Tbe  {^ant  dismoimted  to  oon- 
tinne  the  osnbat  <m  foot;lHit  nuthertiie  thiokneas  of  his  behnet, 
nor  that  of  his  sknll,  eonld  kotg  mitt  tbe  edge  of  the  inintleH 
eword  n^^  by  the  arm  of  Sir  Deeor^  who  wa»  fluting  in  ng^t 
of  hia  miatrosa,  and  moieorer  was  in  a  great  hnrrj  to  go  in  qoeet 
of  his  father.  TOie  ladr  bad  soon  the  |Jeasore  of  aoeing  the  pant's 
■ftn  ug^7  head  divided  from  bis  awkward  ahonlden^  ud 

She  was  as  dad  of  that  ^ht 

Aa ever waebird  of  daj-light. 
A.  few  minutee  brought  hei  into  the  arma  of  her  new  lover, 
vhom  she  reconducted  in  triumph  to  the  oaatle ;  but  the  kni^t, 
being  now  Creed  from  all  nneasinees  on  her  aooonnt,  beoama  im* 
patient  to  fb^  the  act  of  dutj  which  he  had  undertaken,  and 
promiaing  to  return  at  the  e:^in>tioii  of  a  jear,  recommended  her 
to  HeavKL  and  depurted  on  hu  quest 

Ocmtinniiw  to  travel  in  a  weatem  direotion  through  the  forest, 
be  arrived,  ^after  man;  a  long  jounrfe,"  in  a  onltivsted  eotintiy, 
and  soon  behelda  knight  in  compete  armooi,  bnt  with  his  viaor 
dosed,  advanning  toirard  him.    Eisahidd  wasof  giM  andaatm; 

Three  bean'  heads  were  thereiD, 

3%e  which  were  <^  g<M  fin% 

As  ioofl  as  ever  he  taw  that  kni^t, 

He  spake  to  him  anrat-right. 

And  «ud,"Vi]a7nel  what  do«t  thou  here  i 

In  my  forest,  to  ala;  my  deer  f  > 

Sir  Degot4  said,  with  wordes  meek, 
"  Sir,  of  Uir  deer  1  take  no  km ; 

For  I  am  an  aventurona  kn&ht, 

"Dai  ^oeth  to  seek  war  and  Bght." 
The  unknown  Icnight  repUed^  that  he  bad  been  so  lod^  as  to 
meet  with  his  match,  and  oaainng  him  to  arm,  waited  in  nlenoe 
£  IT  the  encounter. 

All  being  readf,  thev  exchanged  the  nsnal  defiance.  toiA  their 
gronnd^  ooadied  tAeir  lance^  and  ntihed  together  wila  todt  vio- 
lenee  that  both  their  hcnea  nm  killed  ]ij  Ob  ihock.    They  then 

S   9 

D,j„.„_,  Cookie 


S78  EAKLT  EHOltBB  XB'&ICAI.  BOKAHCES. 

drew  tkeir  tworda,  wd  contimud  tk»  oobM  <m  bot  witli  null 
ftiT7,  bat  attha  wne  time  with  m>  muob  ikiS  tad  iilili m.  tibat 
tbcnigjt  mthei  wu  able  to  woimd  hi*  utagoniit,  botfc  Cmnd 
ItwDttdTM  BO  ezbMsted  m  to  be  tbi;  uomhis  tat  %iaiaamnV* 
pita,  that  tlKrr  migtit  nie*  thdt  vixxi  and  take  bnaUi;    Tba 


Ttnita,  that  ihaj  migtit  raiee 

OBJaiowK  Imidit  Bpt^e  fint: 

^AMda*  while, 


.thoaetBtilbnghtl 
WbaM^ma  tiua  bom,  aad  ia  idut  laud  I" 
ail,"  hvaaid,  "im  lUnglawi 
A  kiD(^a  davj^Mr  >■  n^  notlier. 
But  I  wot  ant  who  ii  119  fidher. 
What k  thy  nmet"  theuHudha^ 
Sii,  B^BHae  ia  Hegxi," 
"    "        '  ■  Uwo  art  w«l 

it  thonait  mj  wn. 

LlloiowUiietbaret 

The  &ither  atxL  ton,  equally  reU^md  at  tlus  diaooniT}  imaae- 
liatehbegan,  th^  jonmej  towaioa  England;  and  as  two  n^^ta 
tmdiiiiff  b^^ether  oouM  not  be  stupped  b;  aoT  Imasinatde  ob- 
■tade,  they  at  length  arrived  after  a  very  tedioiu  nde,  at  the 
vdaee  ef  the  c4d  king,  wbo  was  re^oioed-te  He  hta  gFaHdaon 
fiegor<,  and  stiS  mofe  rej<iioed  at  fedwg  that  hO' waa  tit*  am  of « 
powerfiii  and  fermidaUe  champieB.  The  pnMMM  wh  ■**> 
■airiadieher  nnoeteHioideailtmr;  aad  aft«  tlirir  mntiala  tt* 
lAele  patty  lepaired  to  A*  eaatb  ig  thafiwae^  iA»n  flif  PagaA 
was  euemnly  united  to  bia  amiaUe  wielww. 


!  . 


i  •  ROSWAL  AND  LILLIAN. 

CMMenung  thii  teaMnoa,  wbM^  ft  U  «U,  oeMkMd  to  anjn,  tiD 
wilbiD  Otoe  ten  jeari,  a  hl^  ^agm  <rf  pf^Uwttyin  SeotUnd,  I  hm 
obtained  mt lalantttiim;  ud  hnc  mtjtteb  a  i^hp*  aq>j  of  It,  nihkh 
wu  Undl;  commniilmtBd  t>  me  by  Mr.  Dew*.  lUa  i>  printed,  but 
wltlrant  data  or  piiam''i  aane,  ud  qipon  te  hen  Imad  from  lome 
prorlncud  pros  alMnrt  d(^y  or  wiMtj  ycm  ^e.  It  ia  ia  the  SeottiA 
diilect.  The  ityle  hu,  peAafai  bM>  modnbed,  and  tta  tile  neau  to 
hm  been  awkmnUy  and  oafdmly  abitdgad,  amima  we  ^poae  it  to  haie 
baen  prmted  frooi  a  matikted  asd  ua^eifM*  MS.  Tbtn  la,  I  tfafak,  >o 
iBtanal  eridence  to  joili^  oar  aaoribing  iu  ori|^  to  as  aoler  peHed 
tlum  the  middle  of  the  tiiteentb  centniy. 

Tanax  was  <»ice  at  NafilMi  a  twfti^  ktsg,  -nhtm  nams  Oe  avtbn 
arr,p.M 

j„.„^.,  Cookie 


BOTfTAI^  llTD  LTEXiUi.  St9 

W  not  theo^  U  aetxarnxj  ta  iMBtiat,  Int  wboaa  bto-mnMntt 
M  &  most  niBpicioua  tyrwnt  mm!  uiUMtuial  ftUer.  Bj  hu  qneoi 
Lillian  h«  had  a  son  nuud  Bcrnnl,  &  pangon  of  bMntj'Kad  of' 

Prinoea  to  him  wu  no  oo^tare, 
Wight  Huimbal,  or  Qnnda&re. 

There  were  aleo  in  tbe  king's  dominiani  tliTee  lonh  "cf  nofelft 
wortli,''  whom  tiMir  soreieigii,  is  oonwqiMDee  of  theii  having 
opposed  his  authority,  had  doomed  to  pe^etual  impriBOnmant, 
ud  who,  after  man;  jt»n  of  bondus,  oomMied  to  langnuh  in 
Uie  duBgeom  of  die  ptttaee.  Boamy^  whoaa  boj^ish  asnueiiMiits' 
had  been  often  disturbed  bj  the  gMsna  of  tbsM  (uifi>rnnate  nun, 
gtaetaadj  determined,  at  the  riik  of  pvovekiDg  hia  lather's  utmost 
iDdignatian,  to  liberate  than  from  oon&mwot-,  and  harii^£>and 
that  the  keys  of  the  priami  wen  i^aoad,  at  i^t,  nndtf  tbe  king^ 
uUow,  ver;  daxtarons^  ooDtrircd  to  wiAthwr  tliem;  and^  after 
diimisriiig  tha  thrM  ni«n«ci,  leatorad  the  k^s  to  their  place* 
without  Hanng  at  all  distutbad  Ids  mnjnty's  shuafaoR 

On  the  foUowing  di^  the  gaalna,  hsving  repaiMd  to  the  prisoB 
with  the  nanal  pittanea  of  nronnecM^  were  not  it  littia  astoniriied 
at  finding  tbe  cell  anoooupwd,  and  MsniwHitriy  hastaned  to  thdi 
master  with  tbe  wonderftil  intdfigtnoa.  Hm  Uiig  wasaonmdl' 
incensed,  that  hs  ttituaiij  Bwwe  to  Mwri&oe  the  life  <tf  tiie  person 
who  had Tentnred to presimfaia intendsdiictiBia fntra  the eAots 
of  hia  vengeance,  even  thoD^  it  ■hooUv^Mtttat  his  son  Boswal 
hadbeenimplic^iediBtbagah;  batjas  tlwkm  had  been  rar- 
loiiied  bj  tbe  pnaoa  without  tbe  partidpKtion  of  anj  aooompliet^^ 
hia  ddinqennoy  oovld  not  haw  btim  proved )  asd  the  csoqie  M  tiie' 
prisoner!  mi^  have  been  attrilnted  to  tb»  nincnlons  interpo- 
aition  of  Heaves^  if  Hoswal  ba<  not  velmMrUy  oorrfaased  himaetf 
gnil^.  Nntbet  Um  teen  of  the  quen,  aer  oonwriBeration  for  his 
son's Tonth, oouU indooe tbe kiiQ  to  reoaflUavow;  bathe  was 
at  lei^^  persuaded  to  ooanmite  tbe  santme,  and  to  banish  the 
bof ;  who  WM  imnsdiat^  sut  off  tft  tt>*  eenrt  of  tbe  king  cf 
Brabo,  attended  M1I7  I7  the  hariiBtewa>d,aB  officer  iriiaaenataral 
■BoroeenesB  of  tvuput  had  singBlarij  oharraed  bis  wott^  master. 

The  protpeot  of  » long  ezU*  is  not  vnr  chowfid.  Etmwal,  in- 
deed, had  tiie  oonadation  ofreflaotiBg'tM'bewM  tiw  victim  of 
hisnneieB»;  aodthatbehadpiffcfasBed,  tfceogh  at  abigfaprice, 
tbe  Ufa  Bad  Sbertj  of  thre»  priaonaw:  battba  steward,  who  wai 
still  Tcnng,  and  mneb  attaebed  t*  tbe  pteaioieB  of  the  ooort  of 
N^ilet,  had  no  ecn^auatieB  fiv  bie  djwypctotmewtfc  He  tboe- 
toM  began  his  jonmer  in  more  than  osoal  iS-huMiir;  ooeopied' 
BoWr^  tbepnjeotofteteiaKbiaaennaBieB,tiUaBwepfcattn| 
■cbraM  oeooned  to  bin},  l^indcb  belu^ied  toiadam^umM^ 
at  the  prince's  expense,  for  his  present  mortification. 

He  ^d  obeerred  that  the  mg,  at  parting,  had  snp^ied  hia  son 
2pS 

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880  ZAXLT  XITQLUH  XXTUCAL  XOKAKCEB. 

with  the  nmil  oradentiali  to  the  oonit  ef  Bealm,  when  lui  pn- 
fltm  WM  totally  nnknown;  and  bad  bertowed  on  him  ™>^TJJ^ 
jeweU  Buffloieot  to  mpport  him  duriiig  »  jew  in »  uMiiMT  wutabte 
tt  hi«  nui :  he  ttowfore  tboQ^t  that,  by  »i»<>pii«tiiig  to  hiii«^ 
thaae  credential!  and  thia  twawiie,  ho  might  eaaUy  penonato  the 
heirttf  Hariei,»ndU>M  «tt«ii»  »  degree  of  poorer  and  dj^f  to 
wUcA  he  had  BO  natural  preteunoiia.  FuB  of  thia  piwwt,  m 
watdied  Ik  a  &Tour»Ue  opportomty  to  execute  it  i  and. -^ile  tM 
prinee,  almoet  Cunting  mth  heat  and  firtigu^  etot^  irom  tna 
Unk  of  a  rlTcr  to  oatdi  aome  water  in  the  hoUow  of  hu  bandL 
wddenly  seized  hJB  legs,  and  with  horrid  imprecatioM  threatened 
to  phmge  him  headlong  into  the  torrent,  unless  he  oonsented  la- 
atantiy  to  deliTei  np  the  money  and  tetters  with  which  he  waa 
(diaiged ;  and  moreover  promieed,  on  his  word  of  honour,  to  oon- 
Oeal  from  all  mankind  tma  nebriona  transaction.  Boswal,  u™™ 
to  renst,  readilj  aubmitted  to  theae  hard  oonditionB:  and  the 
■tewvd,  setting  spurs  to  his  horse,  dis»pe»red  in  an  instant 

The  Toung  and  healthy  soon  fo^  thmr  miafortunea.    Koswai, 

therefore,  ttoogh  ■ufficaenUy  unhapw  at  fiiat,  beoawee  he  was 

tiiad  and  hungry,  had  no  mxxm  g^»d  adimarion  to  ahospitabio 

oottago.  occujued  hyaverygood-natuied  and  talkative  dd  woman, 

thanhe became  tc^rsNy  xeoodledtothiaBBOoiidi^ami^. 

She  apoer'd '  his  name :— "  I  «ine  Bom  fi»r ! 

My  name  it  called  DiiMwar." 

"  Ob,  Disaawsx,  ytm  ahaU  not  be,         ^ 

For  yon  shall  UTe  good  help  of  me. 

She  perceived  at  first  light  Quit  he  waa  very  handwane;  and  M 

■he  thought  her  son  alao  very  handsome,  riu  waa  aoon  of  ^|u"M™ 

that  the  prince  was  very  like  her  son,  and,  to  rewaid  him  w»^ 

rewmWanoe,  detfflTOJjied  to  send  them  to  sAool  tageUiOT.    a«^ 

SM  he  knew  more  than  the  village  soho(*^n»ster,  he  P»™,™  .* 

prodigy.     The  high  steward  of  Bealm,  baring  tiwrf".^ 

talents,  took  him  aa  his  page,  and  carried  him  to  ooort,  TrtM«  »» 

bad  no  sooner  appearedlSan  the  king's  dauj^  a,pp(^Ud  him 

^,      heroap-bearet.    rKTdd  wmiwi  was  inconsolable  &i  the  lowrf 

••   her  adopted  ohfld;  and  even  the  steward  was  reiy  •m»7  »  ?«» 

irith  a  page  who,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days'  service,  had  mafle  a 

progrus  in  his  rfections:  but  lollian,  who  was  an  accurate 

r  of  merit,  and  most  enthmdastic  in  her  admiration  oi  n, 

^.  ^  Ume  in  bertowing  her  whole  heart  on  the  young  oup- 

boivror,  Biid  aa  she  was  much  prettierthan  the  old  »?in»V~*?r 

was  evidently  a  gainer  by  the  tranafa  of  his  servioee  ftom  tne 

cottage  to  the  ooart  ,    ,      .    ,     ^  i..^  i,;, 

tothe  mean  time  the  euppoeed  heir  of  Sapb.  had  not  1«*  Ins 

time.    Thoo^hahad  MedtooapaT»tetheh«Mt  orLiIlmn,M 

Aik«d. 

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great  p 


SOSWAI.  -UIU  UtLIAK.  SSI 

iad  mort  Booowsfiil^  paid  his  coort  to  tlia  king  ber  firther,  who 
liad  pTomiiod  him  hw luiid;  ttnd  a  wlemn  embasEj^,  sent  for  th« 
purpose  of  Hammi^ing  the  ooiuent  of  tiie  king  of^N&pki  to  the 
mEtdi,  wu  ■Itm^  on  the  rokd  to  that  oonnt^,  when  Dianwar, 
rather  unaxpeotauj,  made  his  appeannoe  in  the  palace  of  Bealtn, 
in  the  nhataeter  ot  onp-beaMr  to  the  prinoen.  The  pretendea 
prinoe,  however,  was  not  disoonoerted :  he  tnuted  to  tne  soleinn 
promise  bj  whioh  hii  rival  was  bound  to  secreo;,  and  watted,  fUl 
of  confidence,  for  the  return  of  tiie  embaairf,  t^  which  he  hoped 
to  receive  the  ratificatios  of  the  loaiTiage.  Nor  was  he  disappointed. 
Dissawar  oontinned  true  to  his  engaKcments ;  and  the  imf  and 
queen  of  Naplee  dismisaed  the  ambanadon  with  munificent 
preecnU,  and  with  directions  to  hasten  at  much  a*  poMiUe  Uw 
solemnization  of  the  nuptials,  which  were  Uierefbre  fixed  6a  an 
eul;  day,  ordeia  being  at  the  same  time  issned  for  the  o^bration 
of  a  tournament  in  honour  of  the  bride. 

While  the  oonrt  of  Bealm  anticipated  with  transport  the  ap- 
proaching festivities  ZiilUan  alone  was  plusf;^  in  despair.  Disso- 
war  poBsmed  her  whole  afieotiona ;  but  his  inexplicable  character 
was  a  principal  source  of  her  misery.  She  was  conrinoed  that^ 
because  she  loved  him  he  most  be  noUy  bom;  and  freqoentbf 
nr^ed  him  to  gratify  her  curiosity,  b^  explaining  the  mTsbeij, 
wbid)  was  oertainly  concealed  under  his  inauBpioiona  ap^llation  i 
bat  tbou^  always  tender,  and  Ml  of  respect  and  gratitude,  he 
CMdd  not  be  induced  to  reveal  his  secret.  As  the  tournament 
ajqiroached  he  became  more  silent  and  mdancholj ;  Tiillian  con- 
jured him  to  rater  the  lists,  and  to  try  the  onlj  possible  chance  of 
resouinK  hor  from  the  arms  of  a  man  whom  she  abhorred  ;  but  he 
declaiea  himself  utterlj  ignorant  of  all  kniahtlj  eiercfses,  and 
unqualified  to  merit  trf  deeds  in  arms  Uie  kindness  which  she  wag 
plMsed  to  beatow  on  him. 

On  the  first  morning  of  the  festival,  determined  not  to  behold 
the  triumph  of  his  enemy,  ho  rose  with  the  dawn,  and  followed 
hj  his  hounds  repaired  to  the  forest.  But  the  chase  could  not 
occnnj  his  attention.  He  sat  musing  on  his  horse,  when  he  was 
suddenlj  accosted  bj  a  venerable  stranger,  dremed  as  a  knight,  Mtd 
leading  a  white  war-horse,  on  whose  saddle  was  suspended  a  rait 
of  appropriate  armour.  "Ptinoe,"  said  the  gray-headed  knight, 
"mount  this  hone,  and  clad  in  these  aims  repair  to  the  tonma- 
ment.  At  thy  return  thou  shalt  find  nu  here.  I  will  hunt  thy 
hounds,  and  present  to  thee  the  game  whioh  they  shall  have  taken. 
Dissawar  ob^ed  in  nlence,  bowed  to  his  nnknown  monitor,  set 
spurs  to  his  horse,  entered  the  barriers,  overset  all  who  of^raaad 
lum,  without  having  onoe  broken  his  spear,  b^aa  to  chaste  the 
steward  at  fiiU  speed,— hut,  soeing  him  motion^  with  fear  and 
astonishment,  suddenly  checked  tne  horse  in  tiie  midst  of  hia 
career,  sainted  the  company,  tamed  round  and  vanished  like  a 

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582  ZULT   ZKOLiaH  XETSICIL  BOlUKCSft. 

aaeteor.  The  king  oi  Biwhn  exclaimed,  with  ut  kir  of  tnuupott, 
Oat  be  wonld  ffite  u  ««rhioBi  to  be  aoquainted  wi  A  the  imkiiown 
knisfat;  and  all  the  eeaitienirito'wne  mounted  diipenad  in  qoait 
of  the  stnagm.  B«t  it  was  too  late.  KiMwar,  lainned,  aiil 
loaded  with  venlna,  wai  abeadj  ntnnad  totbepalaoe. 

LHUaa  was  dupoaed  to  be  very  angrj  with  her  lover  In  amta- 
{Bg  bJmeelf  with  the  diaoe  whiln  her  iu^pneM  wm  to  ewknrir 
at  itake ;  bat  ehe  had  no  lennra  to  mpKmdi  him,  beeaoae  the* 
reDuinder  of  the  dOT  wae  icaroel;  long  enough  lor  the  aamia-n 
of  what  had  puMd  during  hie  abeeoca.  8be  lierer  thought  tlutt 
■he  had  expatiated  inffioientlj  on  the  nioui  of  the  stni^er,  and 
on  the  hmmilialiaD  Of  her  intended  hniJMBd;  bnt  at  lei^  die 
tioeed  her  itorj,  after  reqneetinffllinawar  to  attend  hec  to  the 
■peotade  of  the  ftJlowiuK  day.  De  bowed,  bnt  made  no  piomiie ; 
beit^  VOY  anxiout  to  ntow  whether  ike  fereet  oontuned  ai^ 
more  knigntt  who  were  aoqnainted  with  hie  itoi;,  and  divMed  to 
provide  hin  with  exoelleut  bonea  and  annoni  of  pnwC  Hie  fiiet 
Mnefhotor,  he  was  very  eoie,  wu  no  quit  of  the  wooda,  bat  » 
Tery  eabetantial  M  gentleman,  and  an  eioellent  hunter.  P^lu^x 
tit«e  night  be  more  pereone  of  a  mmilai  diqioMtiMiin  tibe  nma 
fbreit. 

He  wai  not  diaappmnted.    A  eeacmd  kni(^ht,  dreeud  like  the 


whtta  knight  had  nottbooght  fit  to  apfwar,  b  .      _ 

new  advenaiT,  and  was  rewarded  for  faig  h»te  by  each  a  Ul  timt 
he  ]kj  eensden  on  the  Rreand  anddit  «  crowd  of  rivala,  aU  of 
whom  were  nnhoraed  witii  the  eame  bciUty  b;  the  tcniUe 
■Iranger.  Dinawar,  however,  wai  aa  pnnotaal  •«  before,  t«^ 
great  aatoniihmeiit  of  Lillian,  whoee  praetnting  e^  had  di»- 
oovered  in  the  unknown  knight  a  strong  lesemtdmee  to  her  loTer, 
but  who  onuld  not  aoeoont  f^  his  bein^  able  to  preeent  her  with  a 
large  eapply  of  newly-killed  vemeon,  if,  aa  she  eui^KMed,  he  had 
he^  the  prinoipiU  actor  in  the  tournament. 

On  the  third  daj  he  waa  rapplied,  in  a  iimilar  nmwer,  with  a 
bay  horae,  a  red  thteld,  green  umoor,  and  a  golden  helmet;  cave 
the  steward  a  teoimd  &I^  by  which  he  broke  two  of  hie  rifaa,  bora 
down  all  the  other  oompetltora,  oaet  a  gold  ring  into  bis  mtttnea's 
1^1,  and  rode  at  fhll  apeed  into  the  forest.  Here  he  found  all  bia 
three  ben^otore,  who  now  infenned  him  that  they  were  bia  own 
■al)Jeeta,«Bd  the  very  pnaona  whom  he  had  eo  generooetr  leaoaed 
from  piiaon.  They  tMd  him  that  they  were  wd  aware  of  all 
that  he  had  Buffered  for  their  sake,  uid  promiaed  their  flnttnr 
■aatstaaee,  amrit^  him  that  the  ateward  ahoald  not  ««nh  kagw 
jmvmt  hi*  anion  with  Lillian.  Vkau  enooaraged,  be  repaMl  to 
Ae  palace,  and  eDoountend,  withoiit  muob  alarm,  the  taadar 
Mproaohw  of  his  miitiwM.   who  waa  now  radnc«d  to  afanhite 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


BOeWAI.  U(D  LILLIAN. 


deipBir  I7  the  priMpMt  of  btii^  thtcMni,  on  tlw  foUttwing  day,  uito 
tiwanni'tftheKiHMtMdpriaoeof  HmIm.  A«*kttTeaoiir<9e,slw 
flew  to  her  fothn,  amwed  bin  tbat  bar  heirt  ms  niultenblT 
fixed  cm  DiMkWftr^ki'ra^Md  aguiwttlieoewuAoaef  herinteDdea 
hubsad;  ud  with  a  flood  of  tout  Nooetttd  that  the  fatal  oere- 
monr  might  be  Kt  hut  defwted  ontU  H  abonM  ■f>pear  wbetbra 
the  blood  of  hei  lover,  whom  she  finnlj  believed  to  be  e  king's 
dDD,  wtki  not  as  noble  ur  tb&t  of  Ui  ocnopetltor.  But  her  teen  and 
eloquenoe  were  onaTailing.  The  Eq>poiQted  dav  arrived ;  and  she 
waa,  notwithstanding  b^  nlaetaaoe,  paUit^  mairied  to  the 
steward. 

The  naptial  feast  was  umneTOtul;  attended,  and  IdBian  was 
Mated  br  the  side  of  the  bridcsrooin,  on  wlumigithen  the  vmtared 
to  niw  her  ejes,  «he  cast  loou  of  me  most  ntatked  sbborrenoe. 
1>inawsr,  In  whose  conntenanoe  ^  had  murked  daring  tlM 
whole  oeremonj  an  air  of  oonfidenoe  vhieh  she  could  not  e^ii^ 
waa  not  ret  preeent,  when  three  ttiangen,  nagnifloentlj  -atore^ 
entered  the  hall,  and,  appToaohing  tlw  nfffnt  tabla^  made  their 
obeisanoee  to  the  king  and  to  IaIHBI^  but  without  saluting  (a 
appearii^  to  notice  tlw  steward.  They  annoonoed  themidvea  aa 
XtmKJIlKBi,  a»d  were  pnwewItBg'in  tMr  comfriinieTrte  of  wwnt- 
taktinr,iHHn  tke  mg  ialemipt«d  them,  and  asked  win  tk^ 
•m  so  tnottntive  to  tlielr  pnnee,  the  heir  «f  N^e^  wlta  waa 


then  fitting  at  taUal  Tb^  aaawmL  that  llwj  nnr  him  not: 
bat  «s  tlM  cppearaaoe  «f  MsMwar,  who  tiien  entered  the  hall, 
1hej"fui'«p  to  Bbn,  feU  en  their  kneea  and  l&aed  his  hand,  to  the 


gnat  nrrtwiishniimt  ef  the  Idag,  and  to  the  ntter  ecnfaaon  of  the 
•t«ward,*AefiirHa<«rtbat  hie  erlmea  wo«ld  mm  be  made  pubBo. 
infc«t;'th^nbMallthatUM7kB«r;  and  Rostral  waa  obl^ 
to  oenfivB  tMr  TiiHal,  by  ateiwing  A»  vietorin  whi^  be  had 
gatoad  with  tkdrbonet  and'fliwMr,  wUle  Uman  trimnpbed  Mt 
nMtaetttfakpMofofberiUllinj^iyrit^nMny.  Hie  oulpfit  waa 
now  soiled,  ana  made  apubliooonfeamonof  hia  iuiquitice:  bat,  as 
iwhad  benmaiTMwIUiaUeGoMaitiaaMlenni^to  theprin- 
«•«,  it  waa  tbod^  moat  ngukr  aad  deeMoos  to  bang  him, 
witMOt  hM  «f  t&e ;  after  wUeh  the  hwid  «f  hie  widow  ma 
tnaafamd,  in  Am' Ibrm,  to  the  feel  BeewaL 

^Ae  raaON' wfll  eaollj  fbTCMs  tiwt  the  prince,  during  the  naptial 
ftatMtlea,  whfdi  laated  twen^  days,  waa  moat  proAise  In  hia 
btgesaet  to  tke  ninsttels,  lieatowed  large  smns  of  gold  on  tbe 
obaritaUfl  M  woman  who  had  flnt  reoeived  him,  eonferred  a 
faiahcnrie  on  her  aen,  amply  wwarded  the  tehod-maater,  and  pre- 
«ined  tnA  hoBoan  for  we^md  etemMl  who  intaodooed  bim  at 
OMUt.  AJtar  tU<L  he  beeame  the  Iktiwr  of  three  eoBa,  the  two 
eldest  of  witioh  inherited  the  kingdoms  of  K^>le8  and  Bealm ;  the 
third  beoame  Dope ;  and  of  hia  two  daughtera,  the  fint  was  muriad 
to  the  king  of  Franca^  and  tbis  seeood  to  the  prince  of  Apulia. 

D,j„..;^L,  Cookie 


UKLT  ntOUBH  MXTUCU  XOlUVCKt. 

So  Botml  and  LiOnii  iheen 
land  man  jtan  in  Kood  liUniL 
I  pHLf  to  Jmh 


Vi  mnt  n*  luamii  to  oar  HMii)^ 
jr  UMm  I  have  no  Bon  to  Mj: 
Qod  lend  them  rat  tm^  daam'»^jl 


AMTS  AND  AMYLION. 


Them  woi&j  kni^ti  were  the  Pjlulca  md  Orartn  of  Oe  lendil  ign. 
neuftorr,  it  majbc  pnnuiKd,  wh  tmuUted  fimn  tfaa  Fnndi;<  tbaaf^ 
the  tmubtOT  imiftirai^  nfen  to  the  Gerf,  irbidi,  I  bcBen,  vnadly  niauM 
a  l«tin  (Frigimd.  Onr  *";''■'■  tohoq  if  Tcry  ineieat,  nnee  a  eopj  of  it 
bpnKned  in  die  AscMdIkI:  MS. ;  bnt  the  foUowing  afaitnct  wu  tsLm 
tioa  ■  MB.  in  the  eollectiao  of  Mr.  Dooce.  It  ii  ■  romuoB  of  ccm- 
ridoaUe  length,  oauttlning  399  itiiuu,  of  fii  linci  aadi.* 


Tbxki  wne  once  two  knights  in  Lombardj,  who  havii^  been 
blends  feom  th^  dtildhood,  and  bdng  poeaeaaed  of  two  a4)<Hning 
domains,  letired  about  the  tame  time  to  theii  leapeotiTO  Gastks. 
Each  had  married,  before  his  repeat,  the  lady  of  his  affiKtioiia; 
and  it  happened,  bj  a  singular  ooinciaenoe,  that  both  their  wine 
were  on  ^e  same  d«;  delivered  of  sons,  one  of  iriuoh  was  ohrist* 
ened  bj  the  name  of  Amj^  the  other  bj  Uiat  of  Am^Uon.  'Fbeao 
children,  of  course,  became  plsj-fellows  from  their  infiuuer;  boUt 
wore  bealth;,  be&utilul,  and  active ;  their  persons  and  ttM  wne 
Dearlv  nmilar ;  and  this  reaembkuoe  iacreaeed  to  such  an  astonishr 
ing  a^ree,  that,  when  they  had  attained  twelve  jean  ot  age,  it 
was  become  ahuost  impossible  to  distinguish  the  one  turn  the 

The  dnke  of  Lombard;  about  this  time  proolaimed  a  solemn 
festival,  which  was  attended  bj  all  his  vassals,  and  amoiwst  the 
rest  b7  the  two  knights,  who  carried  with  thrau  the  ohildiffii  for 
the  pnrpoee  of  initiating  them  in  the  arts  of  oonrte^.  The  duke, 
much  amnaed  hj  the  httle  mistakes  which  the  woiuerful  resem- 
blance of  the  two  bojE  dail;  prodnced,  insensiUr  beome  attached 
to  them,  and,  when  their  hthers  pK^Hwed  to  Leave  the  court, 
requested  that  they  would  intrust  him  with  their  future  education, 
assorina  them  that  the  two  pUjmates  should  not  be  separated, 
but  fortered  tt^ether  under  his  eye-,  and  that  both,  when  of  a 
proper  age,  should  be  inveeted  with  suitable  office^  and  admitted, 

■  Co{dei  of  Ifae  Anglo-Nomum  romance  an  preMrred  at  Cambridge 
and  ia  the  Britidi  Miimdd. 

■  Crimed  in  Webw's  Hebkal  Bomancei,  1810. 


uL,  Cookie 


AKTS  jUTD  autliov.  665 

at  im  ttpaM  uid  bj  bis  handa,  to  Uie  dignity  of  knighthood. 
Tbe  offer  wu  too  adrartweoui  to  be  refiued,  and  the  knights 
retired,  after  expreMiDg  their  gratitude. 

,  liTingat  theBMneeoort.reaei'riiiK  theaame  instmctioiu,  shar- 
iag  the  Mme  atmuemaits,  the  two  friends  became  attached  to  each 
other  no  Um  by  haint  than  hj  inofination ;  and,  wishing,  with  the 
mthniiasm  ao  common  at  their  age,  to  strengthen  their  anion  by 
Aeiy  possible  tie,  reciprocallj  took  the  oaths  bj  which  th^ 
beoame  brathen  in  arau;  a  contract  not  leaa  hol^  or  le«a  indi»- 
K^Ue  than  that  of  marriage  between  the  seiea,  and  which,  iden- 
tifying as  it  were  the  two  parties,  obliged  each  to  adopt,  without 
iwaitation,  the  reaentmeots  or  afieotions  of  the  other,  and  to  haiard 
tilb,  and  even  reputation  itself  in  his  service.  Their  skill  in 
inuitang,anexawise  considered  rather  as  the  ooonpatiDa  end  busi- 
ness tban  at  the  mere  ainoseinent  of  tbe  great,  and  their  address 
in  an  martial  ooonpatiwa,«Te  them  an  extensive  reputation,  and 
flattered  the  pride,  while  it  omioilittted  the  affeotiiio,  of  the  dnke 
their  roaster;  who,  having  prodaimed  a  tournament  for  the  pni^ 

Cof  exhibiting  thdr  superiority,  rewarded  tfaur  success  bj 
Bting  them  mth  the  order  of  duvalry.  an3  b;  appointing  Sir 
Amys  to  the  office  of  his  bnUer,  and  ^  Amylion  to  that  of 
steward  to  the  household ;  a  nomination  which  gave  nnivenal 
satdafactiojt,  but  which  awi^ened  the  envy  of  the  chief  steward,  a 
man  of  a  most  malicious  character,  whose  hatred  of  the  yoong 
friends  produced,  as  we  shall  see  in  the  sequel  of  the  story,  a  bng 
series  of  misfortunes. 

Soon  after  this  event.  Sir  Amylion  received  infonnaUon  of  the 
death  of  his  father  and  niother,and  learnt  from  the  messenger  that 
his  presence  was  loudly  called  for  hj  his  vassak  He  was  ther»- 
fbre  onder  the  neceesi^  of  quitting  his  bene&ctor,  and  of  *BP^ 
rating  himself  from  the  ttieaA  of  his  (Mdhood ;  but,  before  nil 
d^Mitare,  be  caused  two  cups  of  gold  to  be  made,  of  exqoiate 
workmsosbip,  and  exactly  similar ;  one  cf  which-  he  proposed  to 
TetaiDj  and  destined  the  i^er  tor  his  brother  in  arms,  as  a  token 
of  their  pure  and  perfect  friendship,  and  a  type  of  their  astonishing 
resembltuiae.  He  then  took  leave  of  the  duke,  who  nnceielf 
regretted  his  lose,  and  quitted  the  oonrt  aocomjunied,  during  a 
part  of  the  way,  by  Sir  Amys,  who  wished  to  protraot  as  long  aa 
posdble  tbe  moment  which  was  to  sever  him,  perhaps  for  ever, 
from  hie  earliest  and  dearest  companion.  That  moment,  however, 
soon  arrived,  and  after  many  tears  and  embraces  Sir  Amylink 
eolenmly  exclaimed. 

"  Fro  tnis  day  forward,  ever  mo 

Neither  &i(  either  for  weal  or  wo. 
To  belpe  ether  at  nedel 

Brother!  be  now  true  to  ni^ 

And  I  shall  be  ss  true  to  thee; 
As  wise  Gtod  me  speedl" 

D,j,,..cjL,  Google 


596  EAELI    ENQIiiaH    MBTmiCAI.   K01U.BCEB. 

He  then  gan  him  mhbc  moi  ■dfuie  mpeettag  Ui  fiitwa  da&- 
dnot,  nooflWModing  uuhikea  fidelity  to  hm  km,  «ad  "»"*— t 
OMtwn  a^ainat  Uie  ma^unatioitt  oi  Um  wioked  stanmd;  aaA, 
«iUr  leftwag  with  him  the  gtUaa  cap,  oontiwud  hit  jcnmej. 
Bk  tirndf  Himl  put  an  md  to  all  ftcwett  «f  ditpaiitig  tbe  aao- 
Ciwicn ;  aitd  hftnnff  tettled  hia  affiuis, M  aliorU;  afUr  tmnied  « 
bawti&l  wila,  in  wboae  wxiiety  and  a»cti«o  ke  hc^ad  to  find  an 
JiiiiiinifinaMnn  for  the  loaa  of  his  fiiuid  aad  brotiiar. 

!■  tka  neaii  tioM  Sir  Amja  retomed  to  co«rt,  irtieM  IIm 
■tawaid,  fram  whatarar  canaeydaodTod  him  irith  avaij  appaar- 
MaarfhiadBWfc  aad  aidieitad  to  be  admitted  iato  to  »mea«cwd 
•oatmot  which  Bad  nnitad  him  with  Amylim;  but  the  ytuag 
knidit  hanug  dnUr  rqeotad  hia  «v«rtiint)*lkging  that  hia  oaUia 
abtMiitclyHedudaa  him  bum  ibmiiig  anjnaw  aimigdati  iili.  li« 
nidmlf  threw  afftha  ma^ 

The  fell  atemr^  thNe  ha  stood, 
Almoat  for  wnth  be  wax  wode;' 

And  taid,  withoat  del&T, 
Aad  aware,  1^  bm  that  died  oq  rood, 
"Tboutraitani)  tboa  wiekadUoodl 
Thau  wilt  atna  thia  day ! 
I  wane  thee,"  he  lud  tliau, 
"For  I  am  thy  alnaig  foe-man, 
^  night  and  by  day  1 " 
ffii  Amyaaafwered  tha, 
"I  nve  thee  thereof  not  one  aloe!' 
Do  right  all  that  thou  nay!" 
The  diqmtanta  then  parted ;  Kr  Amya  boiliiK  with  wnth, 
iriiioh  bowerer  bood  evMorated:  whUe  the  atawacd  oaloolated  in 
rilaoM  the  moat  idGMtaal  meana  of  podudag,  with  the  le««t  pea- 
■iUe  danget  to  hinaal^  the  dastnction  of  his  yoong  enemy. 

3be  duke  had  an  only  danriiter,  vhoae  name  wae  BaUaaateL 
She  had  now  attained  her  firbecnth  year ;  waa  adored  by  the 
da^Kaa,  and  tenderly  btiorod  hj  her  lather,  who,  that  he  mi^t 
gire  greater  aplendour  to  bar  inbudaebon  into  the  world,  pn>- 
duaaed  a  ieatival,  whidi  bated  fourteen  daya,  aad  brought  toce- 
ther  all  the  nobility  of  the  a^oining  oavntrr.  Thoogh  the  due 
•tin  tiiooght  her  too  yming  to  Mudd  the  tonrntimwite,  A» 
tbauAt  bcoaalf  quite  <M  eooogh  for  a  lover ;  and,  haiiw  ^tN«- 
ttoBM  her  maidena  conoaming  t^  merit  of  the  aavenl  KDnhts 
wIm  had  ditpnted  the  prize,  was  informed  that  Sir  Amrs,  whoae 
praiaee  she  had  been  aocuitonied  to  hear  from  her  tendenet  ia- 
auay,  was  still  admitted  to  be  perfeet  and  peerleaa  both  in  valour 


.rtesy.  Belisante  tlterefere  laid  W  iiimt  on  Bir  Amya 
Decame  very  mck  from  sorrow  and  from  la»»^imgina,  took  to  her 
bed,  and  determined  to  aaixa  Ae  fint  onmitaiiityaE  explaining  to 


j„.„^L,  Cookie 


A31T3  ADS  AUTUOX.  5S7 

her  lover  her  iriBheB,  bb  well  u  of  giatifyiiig  hii,  if  he  jhonld 
mtke  her  the  propoud. 

Sr  AmyB,  in  the  mean  time,  wag  perfectly  unprepared  for,  uid 
tboroughlj  indifferent  to,  the  hsppinen  Mbicb  awtuted  liim,  Ao- 
cuBtomed  to  oonsider  the  daughter  of  hu  bene&ctot  ae  »  beaatifijl 
and  Bprightl/ ohiid,  he  had  a^lected  to  nernvk  the  decree  to 
which  her  d^rms  were  matared ;  and,  fiir  ftam  Bnapecting  that 
her  pnwent  uhnent  was  the  remit  of  unsatMed  lore,  hx  leM  that 
be  wu  the  cause  of  her  indigpocitioii,  contented  huMelf  with  the 
peiBuanon  that  it  ww  not  daitgennis ;  nnoe  her  &ther,  b;  whom 
she  was  tenderly  loved,  did  not  abetain  on  her  uwiUDt  from  the 
usual  amnsemeiits  of  the  chaae.  From  theie  amnstments,  hoW' 
ereTjliewaa  himself  debuTed by  anaoddentaliUneM;  and,  during 
his  convaleoeenoe,  to^  delight  in  braathisga  cooler  and  purer  air 
in  iba  AttAy  gardens  of  the  palace,  where  it  is  probable  that  he 


micht  have  recovered  his  hralth  without  fnither  inconvenieDoe 
had  not  the  duohes^l 
remedy  to  her  daagbt 


not  the  duohes^hy  am  nnfoTtnnate  Malitj,  proposed  the  nme 


iuohes^hyam 
ir  daughter. 


She  saH  "  Danghtei,  for  love,  mine, 
Will  we  wende  into  the  gardyne, 

This  ilke  «inuner'a  day  ? 
There  we  may  hear  the  fbwlea'  song ; 
Forjoy,  and  madt  mirthes  among. 

Thy  am  dmll  all  away." 
Up  arose  that  bird'  bright. 
Into  the  garden  she  wente  right 

With  maidens  hcnd  and  free : 
That  summer's  day  was  fidrand  tmdit: 
The  son  Aone  thorough  leme*  of  li^^' 

Heny  It  was  to  see. 
There  bend  ftey  fbwlee  great  and  nuJ^ 
mie  notes  of  tiie  nightiiigtle, 

Merry  singinR  on  tree : 
Bnt  her  was  so  nard  y-wrought, 
On  lovfr4oitging  was  all  her  thought, 

KeiUier  on  game  ne  glee. 
Thai  the  maiden,  in  that  tid(L 
WiJked  nndn  the  orchard  riiu 

To  slak*  her  of  her  care : 
nien  she  saw  Sir  Amys  beside; 
Fndar  a  boo^h  he  gan  «bide. 

To  hear  mirthes  mare. 
lie  young  lady  iHunediBtely  seized  the  opportunity  w 
le  presented  to  ber  ;  and,  ordering  her  attendants  t( 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


588  Ei.SlT  EKaUSB  HKTKICU.  KOXAFCJO. 

im&M  icqDMted  bki  to  twcome  her  bmoN,  aMdring  him  tbathii 
nhinl  would  in&lliblj  kin  her  on  the  apot. 

"  Than  art,"  the  nid,  "  a  ^t^  knight, 
And  L  a  bird  in  bower  mgfat. 

And  of  hi{^  Un  j-aonm ;  * 
Both  bf  daj  lod  l^  night 
Hf  love  ia  on  thee  »4^t, 

Ht  wit  i*  nigh  fteloren. 
Pli^t  methrtruth,thDaduUt«tnu;, 
Ana  never  change  for  no  new 

That  in  this  world  is  bcnn. 
And  I  ifaaH  pledge  my  truth  alao 
JSa  God  and  Death  jat  lu  »4w« 

I  riutU  not  be  fbrBwom." 
That  hende  kniglit  ttille  (tood ; 
For  that  he  chuiged  aU  his  mood, 

And  sMiL  with  wordes  free, 
"Madame!  ror  him  that  died  m  rood  1 
As  thon  art  of  gentil  blood. 

And  heif  of  l£i8  Und  ihiJt  b^ 
Think  aU  on  thy  mudi  honoor  I 
No  kynge'a  son,  no  emperoor, 

Wrae  not  too  good  ft^  thee : 
Oertee,  then,  were  it  nnri^t 
Thr  lore  tamy  upon  a  kni^^ 

tliat  h»th  ncrtber  hnd  ne  fee ! " 
That  merrj  maiden  of  great  lenonn 
Answered,  'Whj  had  not  thou  a  crownl' 

For  Him  that  boe^t  thee  dear. 
Whether  art  thoa  pnest  ot  diaixnmt 
Other,  art  thon  monk,  or  peiaonn, 

That  preachest  me  thos here! 
Thon  should  have  been  made  no  knight 
To  eo  among  ladies  bright; 

TDOU  sho^d  have  b^  a  &ere ! 


For  b^  Him  that  aU  ttiia  world  hath  bought, 
All  tins  preaching  helpeth  thee  nooi^t. 


Stand  thon  never  so  Ion 
Bat  thon  eraniite  me  tliy        „    . 
MyloTe  shaU  be  weQ  d»r  y-bon^t 


80  long! 
le  Qiy  tboo^t, 


witii  paing  hard  and  rtiong. 
<  Cl«iiie,  waMby,  &c.  Sa.        '  She  meuu  Ote  drde  af  hair  prelaeel 
by  rcflwt»itir»l  towBic  ■  De&rer. 

D,j„.„^.,  Cookie 


AXTS  JUfD  AKXLIOIT.  &B9 

Mjkerdiieb  and  mj  clothea  each  one 
I  tbaH  to  rend  them  anon, 

And  ajea,  with  much  wrong 
Th»t  thou  hwt  mo  all  ti>draw ; 
mien  ihalt  thou,  with  londM  law. 
Be  deemed  well  high  to  hong! 
Sr  Am;B  listened  with  aome  alarm  and  much  astonithment  to 
thia  tonent  of  pasaioa.     The  gentle  Beliaante,  dnoe  her  eacape 
from  the  nunerf,  had  made  ench  a  wonderfiil  progreae  in  elo- 
qiienoe,  that  he  wu  mooh  at  a  loes  for  an  answer;  and  fearing 
uat  b;  inconaing  her  too  fiu',  be  might  induoe  hei  to  oany  her 
threata  into  azeootuHi,  he  thonght  it  advisable  to  ^ve  har  time  for 
jeoolleotion,  and  tbereforo  soleumlr  promised  to  oomj^lj  with  her 
leqnssL  if  after  dght  dars  she  shoold  still  perast  in  the  same 
reoolntum.    The  joang  bdj  aceeded  to  this  ooutraat;  ratified  it 
witti  a  very  taidtf  Jdas,  and  gul/  retnnied  to  her  duunber,  leav- 
ing &T  Amja  to  pr^MKo  for  &  return  of  the  dnke,  who  waa  not 
a  tittle  ddi^ted  bj  finding  that  his  siok  dan^t^r  waa  now  per- 
feoUr  reoovered.  ioaonniidi  that  neither  her  penon  nor  !:£ir  numner 
ubibitedtbe  sug'^*^  ^^^Ba  of  her  late  indispodtion. 

The  craf^  atnnu^  it  ma;  be  suppoaed,  waa  not  the  last  fo 
obserre  or  to  otoiment  on  this  yoj  material  alteration.  It  did 
not  escape  him  that  the  ^es  of  Beliaante  were  ooostantlT  fixed  on 
Sr  Amja;  and  as  th^  language  was  perfectly  intelluible,  ho 
inspected  tiiat  she  only  waited  for  the  absence  of  her  Other  to 
tiirow  herself  into  the  arms  of  her  lover;  and  determined,  if  pos- 
eible,  to  verify  bis  susjatdond  b;  becoming  a  oonoealedspeotatw'of 
their  nest  interview.  In  fiutt,  the  joon^  ladv  kept  a  very  emot 
reckoning  of  the  dght  dajs,  during  which  she  had  oonaented  to 
delaj  the  aooompli^ment  of  her  wishes;  and  as  a  honting-par^ 
loost  fiwtanatd^  tocA  place  at  the  exph'ation  of  the  pccua  iM 
panotnallf  repamdto  the  knight's  apartment,  and  sunuDOnedhim 
to  perfbrm  his  pruaiM.  The  steward  was  not  less  pnnotnal  at  hia 
plMS  of  MMioeatiiwnt,  from  whence  he  could  tee  and  hear  all  that 
passed;  and,  afta  wi^Mssing  on  the  part  of  Sir  Amja  a  degree  of 
leluotance  i^uch  his  foath  and  the  beantj  of  his  toittreei  ten- 
doed  rather  extraiffdiiiaty,  bad  at  length  the  sati^odon  of  teeing 
himvield  to  the  temptation,  and  hastened  to  relate  theaneodoteto 
the  voke  en  bit  airiTsL 

Sir  Antn  perfactlr  nnconsdous  of  this  treaohey,  was  at  bis 
post  in  tM  hall  <tf  uie  palace,  when  he  fbnnd  himadf  suddenly 
assaoHed  br  his  maet«r  with  a  drawn  sword,  and  had  loanely  time 
to  make  his  retreat  into  another  chamber,  the  door  of  irittch  tm- 
tnnatelj  arretted  the  duke's  weapon,  and  Urns  enabled  lum  to 
boldapaiday  witbbis  assulant,  from  whom  he  leamt,  with  soma 
difBonltr,  the  oaiiie  of  Uui  ludden  storm  of  indignation.  He  had 
DO  neonroe  bat  to  dear  f^  &ot>  which  he  did  so  stoutly,  ofienng 

D,j„.„^L,  Cookie 


SOO  E&BI.T   ESDI.IU1  mECUOLI.  KOXAHCSS. 

to  pnre  Ilia  inaoseoM  bf  dn^  eondMi,  Uuii  tbe  doke  ordwed  the 
■tn«id  to  take  np  the  kni^'a  fpigv,  wd  aBminted  tlttt  ddj  fort- 
nig^  ftff  tbe  dedimi  <rf  tha  qoaneL  Sml,  howerer,  it  was 
IIIIIII1MIJ  to  find  AofTMMt  <pkte«B)  fiff  tlte  kni^'B  «ppeani>ee  ; 
BndMtAopowcr  HMLiutcnat  or  UiadTenHyintimkUted  allluB 
fiieoli  at  eoDrt,  be  was  on  tbe  ptnat  of  bow  ofdend  into  oon- 
fiBHMitr  whM  tbe  CawloM  B«li«u>ta  exdaisied, 
^— "That  would  be  tmub  wron^l 

Take  117  body  fort]te  kn^i^ 

Tjdthe  darbe  oome  of  G^t, 
And  daw  me  in  priMm  etraicl 

OiCtl>atkB«bt&eawBj, 

lad  dan  not  uphold  hi*  i»,j, 

BitAof  EUB  tofilDg^ 

IhMMMth'  me,  with  ba^  Uw, 
Foe  Bia  lore  t«  brose  avl  to  dnwe, 

Aad  fa^  OS  galowea  to  bongr" 
Vhen-'^MAa  bar  inotlwriMndet  bof^ 
.  £U  aud,  ^b^  that  dM  wtU 

Be  bis  borowe  ridit  ab^ 
That  he,  u  a  good  knigfat  idudde 
That  dn  oCbatajle  uphdde. 
To  fii^with  his  (do. 
Tm  lodi  piadgM  bong  nneiMptionabl^  be  wu  Mt  p 
at  iwqp^  it  Woe  oidf  leqnired  that  Ite  ihovld  make  hia . 
UN*  OB  tba  d*7  M  MeMMt 
-  It  waa  Kith  no  0*11  «<up4ee  that  the  fidrBdiaantebehdltte 
dosBwUcAiatlBcoiiHanedto  ovenpftad  the  brow  of  the  intend 
bttt  B«nwtiowatf  AMja.    Sheiepnaoitedtft  Umthen      ' 


1m»  wtMM  of  the  atewird,  leeaDed  to  hie  nMmcgrr  bii  own  bril- 
UMt  ca]ilMts,a>d  proniMd  Urn  a  mit  of  smaar,  M  Buch  ezorileot 
pnof  ttaf  it-aai^  iaanre  tbe  socMaf  <rf  a  ftr  ntnaw  dianapiep: 
nt  he  aaMend,  irith  an  ur  of  dcepoDdence. 

'I  have  tbe  wrong  and  he  the  ti^' 
nMnthre  I  am  afeai'd  to  fig^t, 

A«  Ood  mote  me  need  I 
Bar  I  mote  swear,  wnhontM  fiO, 
Ai  Ood  me  speed  ,  in  107  batajl, 

That  it  ia  blaehede  ;* 
And  if  I  nrcar,  I  am  ftmwtvn ; 
lU*  and  aoal  I  am  feriom! 
Oartce,  I  can  no  ledel" 
-  n  tbe  logic  of  the  Gtii  Be&aate  ooaU  not 


To  thwe  •araplei  ercn  tbe  logic  of  the  Gtii  Be&aate  ooaU  not 
cnoae  anr  eatafaatoty  avwer ;  bat  Sir  Anrra  baviiv  at  lewA 
aimiiiithat  hti  bntberin  arms,  if  unriaed  of  hia  aitaatMB, 
— «  ^... ...... ..  -^  -  'rttleigainittbatt 

j„.„^L,  Cookie 


TOM,dwib«liai,ierftt  him,  and  take  the  b«tOeag«faat  the  WewMd, 


AIRS  AVD  AXTXI<nr.  C91 

Iho  two  laditt  iuMtediatelr  otngimd  him  to  k«e  no  tinw^  tnrt  to 
wt  offnect  monii^  in  qnwt  m  Sir  Amjdion. 

Hie  knight  obcrred ;  btat,  liatMdug  onl;  to  his  impatience,  ha»- 
taned  fi>nnrd  witii  Bnda  inoMuidemtA  ipeed  that  hu  boTse,  kfter  , 
parfbrming  tomMiung  more  than  h^  the  jotmM?,  fell  dead  with 
&tigue  Mid  huDffsr.  Sit  Amji  prooeeded  on  Ibo^  and  re&ched  at 
ItDKth  t,  forest,  £stant  only  t,  few  leaguee  from  hift  friend's  habi- 
taboD.  But  here  it  became  impoenUe  to  neist  naj  longer  the 
attacks  of  aleep :  he  threw  hineelf  on  the  gnue,  and  qoietlj  re- 
aigued  himielf  to  reft.  lAcUly  Sir  AmrlioiL  who  had  retired  to 
b^  at  an  eari;  hon^  km  maoh  dietiirW  in  a  dream,  which 
wfwiientcii  hi)  friend  as  Btirroimded  b;  wild  heasta,  and  on  the 
point  of  being  deronred,  and,  finding  that  the  -rigion  perdited  in 
peoMotina  lum,  inddenlj  roee,  ordued  hie  horae,  and,  withonl 
auj  attanunti  rode  into  the  fsreet 

All  night  he  rode,  till  it  wis  day, 

Till  be  oame  there  Sir  Amjt  laj 
Into  the  foreet  wide ; 

Thai  B«w  he  a  woei7  man  fc^oae^ 

I^inKonderatiee;  amn 
To  bim  he  gan  ride. 

When  he  oarae  to  him  fdl  right, 

'  Arise,  fdlaw ;  it  is  li^t, 
"  And -time  for  to  go :" 

8a  Amji  bray'd  ap  with  his  dghL' 

And  800D  he  knew- that  gentle  kn^^ 
And  ho  did  bim  abo. 
Tbe  two  friends  now  sat  down  toKether,  and  Sir  Amjt  Nwed 
&Mi  fa^inning  to  end  the  historj  ot  his  amour,  and  tlie  ttektAerj' 
eftke  steward,  adding  that  he  waa  verj  little  solidtoos  about  hk 
own  life,  bat  wished,  if  it  wen  poesibte,  to  save  those  of  Belisanta 
slidthe  dnehees,  tbev^  he  tontnr  that  this  ooold  not  be  dona 
without  the  assistance  of  bis  brother,  ainoe  it  ooold  not  he  ex- 
pected that  heaven  ahonU  permit  Ima  to  gain  the  ^ietorr,  aficx 
pojorinff  himself  in  a  eolemn  appeal  to  the  jiutioe  of  his  QroaAor. 
Sir  Amylion  listened  to  the  tale  with  mnch  Ngret,  lamented  the 
impetnous  affection  of  Belisante,  execrated  tbe  perfidy  of  the 
steward,  and  finafff  detamdned  to  take  the  battle  on  hiroMl£ 
"  Yon,"  said  he,  "  nrast  personate  me  during  my  abeonoo,  and  say 
that  7c«  have  tent  off  ytmi  bone  to  Sir  Amjv.  W«  wffi  O- 
(jmnge  draeaa,  aai  I  boqpe  t4>  be  in  tfaw  to  ttn  the  life  of  joor 
leman,  and  to  pnniA  oar  common  enemy.  Our  perfeef  reerac 
blanoe  will  insure  tbe  ■oMOas  of  our  prqjeot,  and  deoeive  all  ares, 
even  thoeeof  mv  wifi^  wboml  mmt  oommit  during- a  few  aa,j% 
to  jovT  dteteaon."  After  these  words  they  embritced  and  ae- 
puitted. 

>  Started,  aad  rsiied  hi*  eyes. 


693  KABI.T  XnSLtSH  METXIOAl  KOIfAKCU. 

The  EnppOBSd  Amylion  prooeeded  on  foot  to  tbe  outt^  kad, 
Iwring  t<ua  a  Ter;  pJiiuiiUe  sfairj  respecting  the  hora^ 
Uttle  ftnd  much,  lees  uid  mare, 
And  ftU  that  ever  in  court  were 

Weened  it  hsd  been  h>. 
And  when  7-comen  wu  the  night, 
Sir  Amjs,  tnd  the  kdy  bright, 

To  bed  gan  thej  go : 
And  when  thej  weren  in  bed  Uid, 
Sir  AmTB  his  iword  oui-br»yed, 
And  held  it  between  hem  two.' 
The  Ikdf,  we  mar  presume,  was  a  good  deal  Borpriaed,  and 
perhsra  etartled  &t  the  introduotion  of  this  third  inmate  of  ber 
Ded;  bnt  her  supposed  hosband  informed  her  that  he  (bund  him- 
self intUsposed,  and,  apprehending  that  hie  fever  might  be  infec- 
laoat,  haa  adopted  thu  precaution  for  her  security.     This  excuse 
ntiafied  ber,  and  Uiey  continued  to  live  on  k  footuig  of  the  grwt- 
Mt  oordiality. 

In  tbe  mean  time,  thon^  Sr  Amylion  bid  used  the  utmost 
expedition,  tht  daj  uiptnnted  for  tbe  battle  arrived:  the  steward 
entmd  the  lists,  and,  not  meeting  bis  expected  adversary,  londlj 
pioclumed  that  the  ti^tor  Sr  Amjs  nad  fled  into  a  distant 
ixnnttT.  and  reqnired  that,  aooording  to  the  law  hdd  in  sodi 
OHsa,  hu  two  ^iMges  diould  be  produoed  in  his  stead,  and  nub- 
hdj  bnmed.  The  duke,  however  lehictant,  was  oompdleo  to 
issue  this  dreadful  order,  which,  however,  the  officers  who  re- 
ceived it  were  in  no  haste  to  execute ;  so  that  while  the  fire  was 
kindling,  and  tbe  two  ladies,  who  now  b«gan  to  despair  of  their 
deliverance,  were  approaching  the  place  of  execution,  tbe  kni^t 
appeared  ;  and,  ridiny  up  to  the  duke^  whom  he  tauotiii^y  rewi- 
mandedfur  his"TinkuidnesB"in  wishing  "to  make  roast  of  ladies 
bri^t,"  nrooured  their  immediate  liberty.  He  tiken  retired  with 
tben  to  De  armed. 

And  ric^ely  they  ean  him  schrede,' 
With  helm  and  pUte  and  worthy  weed; 

His  'tire  it  was  fiill  gay. 
And  when  he  was  on  his  steed. 
That  Qod  Almighty  should  him  speed 
Many  man  bade  that  day, 
1  A  dmSir  inddBit  occnn  in  Sir  Trirtnio,  whom  King  Hark  diKth 
ven  lying  by  I'fonde,  with  a  drawn  mmi  between  tben;  npoa  wkkik 
be  rcBurks: 

"  Gtf  tbey  wenn  in  nnne. 
Nought  so  tbey  no  Isy :" 
Si«iliaESrW.SMtt')nateonthBpun«e,p.SZS.  The  ideafsof  Oiialil 
orisis,  *nd  ■  like  ecens  will  ooenr  to  enry  one  wbo  reoemben  (and  i4e 
does  notf)  tbe  tik  of  Aladdin.  ■  Shrood,  1.  e.  dress. 


And  ae  he  lode  oat  of  the  town, 

A  voice  there  come  fro  heaTen  adown, 

That  no  man  heard  but  he; 
And  Mid,  "Knight!  Bft  Anjlion! 
Qod,  that  BuSred  pnanon, 

8eut  thee  -woTahj  me  I 
Gif  thou  this  battle  nnderfong, 
Thou  ghaJt  have  aventureB  fl^Dg, 

Within  these  jearee  three ; 
Ere  then  the  three  jeare  ben  agoo^ 
A  fouler  man  nas  neror  none, 

CerteB,  than  thou  ahalt  be. 
But,  for  thou  art  bend  &nd  free, 
Jesu  tfaaa  sent  word  bj  me 

To  wame  thee  anon: 
A  more  nrethe  than  thoa  shalt  be, 
In  care,  in  sorrow,  and  poverty, 

Was  never  man  worse  b^one. 
In  all  thj'  londe  good  and  henda 
They  that  are  thy  beste  friendo, 

Shall  be  thy  moete  foen: 
And  thy  wife,  and  all  thy  kin. 
Shall  Ehun  the  etead  that  thou  art  in, 

And  fbrvake  thee  everihcoD." 
The  hende  knight  stood  still  as  stone, 
And  beard  these  wcrdea  eTericbon, 

That  were  so  hard  and  grylle :' 
He  wist  not  what  was  beet  to  don ; 
To  flie,  or  to  battcU  gon  ; 

In  heart  he  liked  ill ! 
He  thought,  "  If  I  be  known  by  name, 
Then  t^H  my  brother  ^  to  ^^me; 


To  save  my  truth  I  will  not  apare ! 
Let  Ood  do  all  his  will !" 
Having  formed  this  generous  resolution,  be  sparred  forward  to 
the  lists:  and,  having  sworn,  in  apparent  oontiadictioD  to  the 
steward's  allegation,  "that  ho  had  neTer  received  any  &voan 
from  Bclirante,"  began  the  mortal  combat;  in  whioh,  after  n- 
ceiving  a  dangerous  wound  in  the  shoulder,  he  at  leiuth  pieroed 
his  adversary  to  the  heart,  and,  having  cut  oS  hia  head,  preaented 
it  to  the  duke  as  an  undeniable  proof  of  hii  daughter's  in 


9  Buppoaed  &i  Amy^  mm- 


j„..;^L,  Cookie 


.>. 


""".,. 


<*«¥.■ 


giiizcdt,  Google 


in  care,  it  n-rw  bk  ;„_,  ' 

In  sU  th;  iuuv  »  r/.  j^r 
Tier  that  w.  Li .  M>.  ii2^ 

Ani  tin  wilt,  uiii  ^  -j^,  ^ 
finll  B^ini  tht  b^  1^  ^ 

And  fonakt  l^ ^ftwunj  ** 
The  bfflidt  ku^i  B««  ■„  ^ 
Ai>d  hevd  tli*«t  «i-nitto<nJl* 
Ttat  were  «i  Wil  lud  -J^ 
He  wi*  »"'' "taiWM  ii^  ji^ , 
To  fik.  or -Up  lalldl  ((Ml .     ^. 

Be  tJwMbi. "  If !  W  kaownfe  ^ 

Wilii «"»« Ibej  "il  W  bSt' 
Certai,"  ht  mi.  "iw  iftaddo^ 
To  ■«  w  Uttti.  1 -111  bw  uS 

Let  <Jui  A'  al!  his  win-  ^* 

Hwing  fc^**  <*^  ««*-*«"*■*«■ 
•<..  iMte-  nd.  brABt  wmh.  u  bm 


L,  Google 


594  U.SLT  sveoJiK  mraio&x  soxiLKcxs. 

beoome  the  univeml  bnarita,  mmde  &  trinnt^nnt  entry  into  the 
fi»M,  where  the  bert  lairtw  that  Italy  eodi  afford  were  Hnm- 
moiwd  to  dreaa  hii  woaadt.  Their  npf^  ««■  bvouisble ;  mkI 
tiuni^  bii  ahonldiv,  in  imte  t^  thai  iKill,  continved  to  give  him 
pain,  be  wm  ■oon  enabled  to  take  Uf  leave  of  the  kdie^  and  ' 


pceaeenon  of  hia  ioheritaiMie,  and  plaoed  him  amoi^  the  moat 
powerful  prinoes  of  Italy.  To  oomiMe  hii  hapg^mB,  he  be- 
came, in  UM  firat  two  jean  of  bii  marriaeB,  the  father  of  two 
beantiAtl  dhildren;  and  hia  miatren,  penaotly  eared  of  that 


petolanoe  andTivaci^of  cbaraotarirtnohbadoaeaaoaed  m  much 
goilt  and  wieerf,  heoame  the  gtntleat  and  moat  ifiectionate  of 

We  nnut  now  retain  to  Si  An^on,  who,  having  onoe  more 
ramuned  hia  own  oharaotv,  tetamed  to  his  oaatla,  Rowing  with 
delist  at  having  eetabUied  fbr«¥er  the  fintonee  ajod  lutp^nees 
of  ma  friend;  Mt  oocaaionally  refcotiiw  irith BDme  uneasmeeBon 
the  mytterious  threateninn  of  tiw  angel  Bat  evetr  melanoholy 
reflection  was  lost  in  du  pleaaore  rfrerkitui^inB  w^  whom  he 
loved  with  the  meet  ardent  fbndneaK  At  mgfat,  of  conne,  the 
ffwtwd  was  fingotteiL  and  the  lady  was  nmdi  pwased  ai  the  omis- 
sion; tnit  she  oould  not  fiwbear  from  inqoiring  why  be  had 
tbtHwht  fit  dnring  a  wh^  fintnl^i^  to  peraarere  in  a  cetemony 
whidb  she  was  diapoeed  to  tiiink  Wry  fiM^sh  and  nnneoeemj. 
Amylion,  to  whom  this  infi)nnation  was  qoite  new,  and  to  whom 
it  a£iided  an  equivocal. proof  at  bis  friend's  ddicate  wnae  of 
bonoor,  had  no  answn  iw^;  and,  withoot  amridoriiw  the  po«- 
f  BoA  a  ocmtedon,  frankly  Xda  Iwr  the 


BiUe  i , , 

wbiM  story.  The  lady  leceived  it  ^rith  iadignatian  and  diaeuat. 
9>e  disdained  to  reproach  him  with  ha'ring  idaoed  ha,  wiUumt 
her  knoiriedge  or  consent,  in  a  most  atAward  predicament  with 
Sir  Amy^  bat  vented  her  fiiry  on  the  leat  of  hu  eondoot;  loodlj 
dedaring  that  Ins  frkod  had  deserved  to  die;  that  hia  profligate 
nisbea  merited  tiie  seTewst  pnniAnieot ;  and  that  tbe  ateinrd, 
idMB  he  had  orodly  alain,  was  the  only  person  fbr  iriuan  dw 
frdt  esteem  a:  wpet  In  mn  £d  Si  AmylKn  attenq*  to  pao^ 
bar,  cr  to  ^uM^sfa  UmsdC  Every  boor  added  to  her  rage, 
irindi  settled  into  tfw  most  mortal  avBTOcm;  and  Ois,  it  maybe 
Mwpoaed,  was  act  dtminished  1^  the  efbot  of  a  hideoos  Iqmey, 
wmcli,  as  the  angd  had  fbretoU,  rendered  him  an  object  of  loath- 
ing to  all  lito  aoqnaintanoe.  Bven  his  modab  were  ttnwiltieK  to 
■nehin,  tad  mn  aBeonngea  in  tinii  diiobedieitoe  by  £dr 


uL,  Cookie 


And  on  %  dkj  ibe  gan  Limnd, 

Andnid,''ItU«>b^ 
For  tothe  I  tdl  it  thee, 

It  is  great  qrite  to  ns  all. 

Hut  thon  hut  been  to  kmg  in  all : 
Ht  hin  i«  wrath  with  me !" 

nis  fcniaht  wept,  and  Mid  hei  tiSi, 
"IHine,  ao  me  there  ii  th;  wiO, 
That  no  man  mo  me  see  I 

Of  DO  more  good  I  thee  pray, 

But  0  meal's  meat  »  da; 
For  Sainte  Cbaiit^." 
Sir  Amjlion  was  now  bauiehed  from  bia  casUe  to  a  maQ  hovel, 
lAudi  fail  wife  caoeed  to  be  hfiiit  at  aboot  half  a  m^  fiaai  tte 
gate,  and  to  wbioh  he  was  attfinded  onlj  b;  a  M^  of  twdva  jMia 
old,  called  Oiild  Qneja,  the  pon  of  a  distant  nliBon,  who  daraled 
himself  to  the  wrrioe , of  «,iDasteTi^andaned I^ all  the  wod^  ud 
inTiolabtypree»Tedfor,a  wretebed  oatcast,  the  love  and  mtt^ 
tioD  which  be  had  s^om  to  Bir  Amylion  when  Mgard«d  as  the 
pride  and  pattern  c^johivahy.  For  a  time  the  miwnJJe  oevpU 
were  mipplied  with  a  dailj  meal  whioh  Child  Onm  fetchad  &«n 
the  castle ;  bat  at  length  the  laAj  became  tired  <n  this  lib«n)i^. 
and  reAiaed  to  oontriblite  any  longer  to  the  snpport  of  a  hiiiibaM 
whom  heaven,  fts  she  said,  had  marked  with  itimoet  signal  tsb- 
seaDoe,  and  towards  whom  every  oharity  ira^  criminaL  It  new 
became  oeoe^rarj  to  procure  their  food  mnu  a  distant  town ;  and 
the  feeble  knight,  nnable  to  rtrn^e  with  thii  faiigaa,  ^rapoaed 
to  quit  the  ooon^  altogether,  if  his  wile  wenld  enable  him  to  i» 
aa  by  wnHtng  him  an  ass  on  whid  he  ooold  ride.  She  eent  hlM 
two;  and  with ihese  they  departed,  and,  wandering  from  tow>  to 
town,  obtained  a  ecmty  snbeiBtMice  by  b«^[giiu,  tiH  a  grttvovi 
&niii^'  deprived  titem  even  of  this  poor  sapply.  ^  Aj^Uob 
etffl  ppeeeaeed  hb  golden  eup;  but  frnn  this  tw  had  iwcvn  that 
deatb  alone  should  eeparate  him;  he  therefore  sold  the  two  hm« 
am{  continued  his  ]Hlgiimage,  Child  Oneys  carrying  him  wiUi 
infinite  labour  (mhu  back,  tul  thc^  could  procure  a  small  cart  to 


Then  cronded'  the  child  Bir  Amylioun, 
In  all  the  onnntiT,  up  and  down, 

As  ye  m^  nnderstonde, 
Till  be  earn  to  a  che^ns'  town. 
There  Sir  Amye,  the  bdd  benw). 
Was  duke  and  tord  in  londe. 
nie  three  yean  of  puniihmait  [wedieted  by  the  angd  vara 
rlipird ;  and  the  wretched  ksq^ht,  an  object  of  hontor  to  Us 

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5S6  XABLT  EXOLISQ  XXTBIC^T.  BOIUMCKS. 

wlu4e  ipede^  tnd  onl;  enaUed  br  the  ntniwt  efforts  of  his 
klmoit  nsked  attendant  to  protract  his  existence  in  pain  and  sick- 
imm,  and  under  ererj  qieoiee  of  prifation,  appMred  to  haTQ 


•xhaoitad  to  the  last  drop  the  odd  of  hmiiau  oalamitj.  While 
be  iaa^^  as  a  panper,  the  gate  of  his  noble  friend,  which  waa 
alrekdf  crowded  with  mendicanta,  he  strictlr  enjoined  Onejs  to 


oonoeal  his  name  and  nnk ;  and  the  jwjth  in  obedient 
(ndaia,  hanng  wheeled  him  to  the  edge  of  the  moat  which  snr- 
Tounded  the  castle,  stood  over  him,  gold,  hungnr,  and  naked, 
expecting  with  patience  a  share  of  the  dnke'i  charitable  dona- 

When  thej  beard  the  sonnd  of  the  trumpets  whidi  sonunoned 
the  gaeets  to  table,  and  the  ahoats  of  laughter  which  fiUed  the 
hall,  ther  felt  more  keenlr  than  ever  the  ei(i«M  of  their  miserj. 
At  lengui  a  kni^t,  aooompanied  bj  a  se^eant,  issued  from  tl^ 

Cud  accidental  oast  his  ejres  on  the  two  wandererB.     Nercr 
he  witDMsed  snob  a  di^osbng  object  as  tbeleper,  whose bodj 


1  to  be  corned  wim  one  fetid  sore ;  never  had  be  bebdd 
■noh  manlr  beantr  «a  in  the  jouthiiil  Oneyi.  He  approached 
bim ;  ooorteondj  inqnired  into  his  occupation ;  heard  witii  infi- 
nite nojaise  that  he  was  servant  to  the  lazar  in  the  cart;  propoeed 
to  him  to  quit  this  denading  emfJojment  for  the  office  of  pijge  in 
the  dnke's  ooort ;  and  was  still  more  astonished  at  reoeiviug  a 
dvil  but  firm  refusal  of  this  inviting  offer.  Virtue  so  diontere^ed 
was  natarall;  oonstmed  bj  the  oourder  into  madness.  He  re- 
tamed  into  the  h^  and,  laughing  heartily  at  the  jest,  related 
the  anecdote  t«  Sir  Amyi,  nbo,  looking  on  him  wiu  a  smile  of 
oootempt,  replied,  that  such  a  Toath  deeerved,  and  ediould  pre- 
aeaiij  leoaiTe,  an  adequate  reward :  in  the  mean  time  he  called  a 
•quir^  and,  filling  his  gtdden  cup  with  wine,  directed  that  be 
sboold  carry  that  to  the  lanr  at  tbe  gate,  and  to  bis  naked 
attendant. 

^te  squire,  having  ezeouted  the  order,  was  amaied  at  seeing  the 
Iwer  draw  from  under  his  sorry  bed  a  second  aap,  exactly  reson- 
bong  that  whidi  he  had  brought  He  surreyed  them  vrith  the 
most  minute  attention ;  and,  beinff  unable  to  discover  tbe  ali^test 
difference,  hastened  with  this  iutdligence  to  tbe  dnke.  ^  Amys 
now  started  from  hia  eeat,  and  exelaming  that  the  i»eteiided  leper 
must  have  robbed  bis  brotiier  Amylion,  vowed  to  sacrifice  the 
wntch  to  hia  just  resentment;  and,  mating  out  of  Ibe  hall, 
instantly  sdsed  the  supooeed  culprit,  drmohea  him  in  the  moat 
rolled  him  on  tbegnmno,  trampkahim  under  foot,  and  bad  laiKd 
his  sword  to  put  an  end  to  his  life,  when  Child  Oneys,  starting 
from  the  crowd  of  trembling  spectators,  suddenly  caught  the 
assailant  in  bis  arms;  held  Um  witii  a  vigour  which  ne  was 
anable  to  resist;  and,  reproaching  him  with  bis  cmel^  towards 
tiw  preserver  of  his  life  and  bMiMir,  exdaimet^ 

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AHTS  IXJ)  AHTLIOV.  597 

"  He  ii  thr  brother,  Sir  AmTlion, 
That  whilom  was  a  noble  Duon, 

Both  to  ride  and  go: 
And  now  with  mrow  is  drirea  adownt 
Now  Ood.  that  mfiemd  puiion. 

Bring  nim  ont  of  his  wo  I 
Por  thee,  of  liliM  h«  is  bare. 
And  thou  ^dest'  him  all  with  em. 

And  brMkeat  hia  bonea  »-twol 

That  be  halp  at  th^  need 

Well  enow  ncquittert  thou  hia  meed! 

Alae  \  wbj  himi  thou  «o  1" 

Sir  Amja  heard  these  wordf  with  the  deepest  oontrition.    He 

beheld,  oa  the  ihoolder  of  the  leper,  the  deep  ecar  remaining  from 

the  wound  inflicted  bj  the  steward;  and,  instantljrr-"-"-— — *■" 


arms  the  wretdh  whom  he  had  to  latelj  vowed  to  deetroj;  and 
Beliaante,  when  qtprised  of  the  story,  atiflins  at  onoe  allemotionB 
of  homir  and  disgnst,  flew  to  meet  and  kiss  her  beno&ctor.  From 
this  moment  evei;  attention  which  affection  could  devise  was 
employed  to  soften  tho  horron  of  his  &te ;  and  Sir  Amylion,  long 
accustomed  to  phynoat  BafTerioB,  endured  without  a  murmur  the 
cbastiBement  inflicted  by  Providence. 

One  ni^L  as  he  lay  in  his  bad,  the  angel  appeared  to  him  in  a 
vision,  and  declared  to  >i'th  that  "  if  Sir  Amys,  on  the  festival  of 
the  Nativity,  which  was  fut  approaching,  would  ont  the  throatB 
of  bis  two  ohildnn,  and  amont  the  leprous  sons  with  their  blood, 
the  disease,  which  was  incurable  I>7  *^  other  meui,  would  in- 
etantly  diaqtpesr ;"  and  at  the  mne  time  the  same  inteHigenoe 
was  oouTeyea  bj  the  anselio  messengo:  to  Sr  Amys.  A  few 
hoars  after  this,  the  friends  being  met  as  nsoal,  Sir  Amylionooold 
not  refrain  frtnn  mentioning  U>  his  brother  his  extraordinary 
dream,  to  which,  however,  as  he  had  reoeived  his  former  warning 
when  perfectlv  awake,  he  attached  little  importance.  Sir  Amys 
kept  ttlence ;  Wt  oomparing  his  friend's  dream  with  his  own,  was 
convinced  that  tiiey  were  a  warning  fiun  heaven.  The  fedingi  ot 
ft  flithor  pleaded  powerfkii  against  the  sacrifice;  but  rdigion.  and 
■n  endindastio  sense  of  mtitnde  to  his  Imther,  ptenileo.  It 
was  the  eve  of  the  Nativity,  when  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
spend  the  nicht  in  prayer;  but  he  now  directed  Belissnte  to  pro- 
ceed vrith  alTthe  &mi)y  to  dmich,  declaring  that  he  would  stay 
at  home  alone  for  the  pnipoae  of  attending  on  Sir  Amylioo.  The 
duoheas  obeyed,  and  he  was  left  without  witoesses. 

Alone  himoaif^  withonton  mo. 

To  his  own  chamber  he  gan  go, 
>  BeqiiUrt. 


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W  ZABLT   XaSUlK  MBTmiCAI.  XOI[A>ICKS. 

^laa  Ut  dntdim  wan; 
And  he  behalf  thorn  bothe  iw9. 
How  fiuT  Um7  I^n  togatber  iha, 

Aad  phjideB  boih  id  fcia. 
Hub  Mid  Im,  "  Bjr  Sunt  J<^ 
It  ii  great  roWtb  jm  to  rimi, 

ISutt  Qod  had  bon^t  w  dear  1" 
Hia  knifa  he  had  dzawea  that  tida; 
F<n-  tornnr  ha  stood  ham  faettd*^ 

And  w^  with  mi\j  cfaaer. 
And  when  be  had  wept  there  he  atood. 
Anon  be  tnnwd  ^un  hia  ntood, 

Witboutea  men  dd^. 
"  Ht  braMMr,  tbat  waa  troe  said  nwd, 
lornM  he  died  hk  «wne  bkwd, 

T*  mtn  my  life  one  Amj. 
V/hj  diooldX  ^en,  nj  oiuldren  ^ai^ 
Tfrhring  nj  tmtber  ont  ef  eaie  ? 

Oerte&  he  aaid,  n^! 
H/  brottwr  to  bdp«n  »t  tfaia  need 
Jiaa  gm  me  wd  toapaed, 

And  Harr  that  beat  nayr 
No  longer  he  no  atenle  ne  atood; 
Be  drew  hie  knife  wilfa  dnsTf'  inee^ 

Hia  ddliken  ha  hent^  tho ; 
And,  for  he  woold  not  q«fl  ber  blood. 
On  »  bti^n  feir  and  good 

TtM  tln«ri>  be  CMS  »4aKk 

Bs  ttat  owcfbllr  npkeed  the  children  in  bed,  threw  the  dotliei 
»  Huso,  iotkai  the  door,  and  oanogaled  ths  k^. 

To  hia  bmtlier  he  w«nte  tiian. 
And  eaid  to  tiie  oaitAd  DHtn, 
Sod)  time  m  Qod  waa  bocn, 
*I  ham  thee  brought  mj  diildi«n'e  blood; 
r  hope  it  ihdl  do  tttee  |ood^ 
Aa  the  an^  aaid  be£m." 
"Bradierr'  Sit  AntTfien  gan  ntj; 
East  dun  elain  tby  (Ul£ren  twi^  ^ 

AbMl  wbrtfidatthoDior 
Be  wmt,  and  Mdd,  '  Wd  awa; ! 
"  I  bad  Btrrar,  till  dooiiieed», 

Have  hin  in  eofiew  and  wo  r 
"Brother,"  laidSrAsns,  "beetBII 
Qod  ma^,  when  it  ia  bn  w3^ 


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lot,  tiKnaa 


AUTS  ±»D    AMTUOX.  *99 

Sotd  ma  ohiUren  mo : 
Par  ne,  of  Uim  Umv  krt  bue! 
T-iriH,  mj  life  I  would  not  ipue 
To  bring  Am  now  therfro. 
With  ihese  word&  be  Bnoiuted  ffir  Amflioa  wiUi  tiu  bkod, 
^uod  tntniahkbed,  direoted  him  to  go  to  sleep  in  tike  fliH  OMt- 
fideoM  ctf  aspaneiiBiig  thenercT  of  hwven,  and  r^paind  to  ohapeL 
wboe,  mnSMnns  bii  tnime  beforo  the  ttltar,  he  bnmblrimidtaed 
hie  Bedeemer  ud  the  Mcied  Tiigin  to  interaede  tar  a  mmn]enr, 
ifhon  gailt  had  faaon  pmdveed  b;  motives  of  the  suuerait  pie^. 
Bdinitte  had  no  wooer  finiabed  het  devotione  than  ihe  hutoiuid 
totnhold  and  embimoe  her  ohil^oD;  bat  lier  atteodanti,  h» ' 

wnl;  wnriit  fi«  the  kef,  retnmed  with  aa  air  of  alini, 

nported  t^  it  wae  so  where  to  be  fonnd.  Bir  An^  itsnilj 
(Koered  tiuaa  to  de^rt,  aai-  bemg  left  alone  with  his  wife,  oom- 
Tnimicttid  lo  hei,  with  mnoli  agjt^on,  the  dreadlhl  soene  wbitji 
had  taken  ^aee  daring  berabaenea.  Thewretdwdmotharfiunted 
inhiianni,nndq9eeiedfi»BDmetima,aaIi&laMaa  her  children; 
bat,  on  her  reooTerr,  reading  in  fav  huahand's  oonntenanoe  tike 
agonj  of  his  heert,  die  sadden^  reeomed  ber  counge,  and  exerted 
henelf  to  soothe  and  oonsole  lum,  adding  to  the  argument,  which 
he  had  already  used  to  Sir  Amjlion, 

"And  gif  it  were  at  niT  heart'  root, 
For  to  bring  thy  brother  boot, 
My  life  Bhoold  I  not  spare  1 
!rhere  Bhall  no  man  our  children  eene , 
For  to-morrow  the;  shall  buried  ben, 
As  thej  fairly  dead  were." 
She  then  honied  him  to  the  chamber  of  the  leper;  whom  they 
ftmnd  miraonhHuly  restored  to  his  former  health;  and  having 
humbly  adored  the  inscrutable  wisdom  of  Providenoe.  they  thou^t 
their  minds  sufficiently  tranquil  to  contemplate  witik  pious  resig- 
nation the  frightful  sacrifice  by  which  they  had  purohased  theu 
friend's  reooTery.    They  entered  the  htal  room;  inToluntar% 
shuddered  as  they  approached  the  bed ;  and  beheld  the  idkildren 
just  awakened  from  a  refreshing  sleep,  and  sporting  together,'  ut- 
terly unconscious  of  the  pangs  which  they  had  cost  their  anxious 
parents,  and  unable  to  account  for  the  flood  of  silent  tears  which 
fell  upon  them  from  the  eyes  of  Sir  Amys,  while  be  preseed  them 
alternately  to  bis  heart,  and  tranifbrced  them  to  the  embraces  of 
the  weeping  Belisante. 

The  author,  true  to  the  prindplee  of  romanoe,  has  thou^t  fit  to 
hurry  us  from  this  striking  picture  to  a  series  of  events  which  aia 
not  at  all  iutereeUng,  but  which  he  thou^dit  neoeesuy  fbr  the 
purpose  of  duly  rewarding  the  virtne  of  OhiB  Oneya.  The  reader 
williemember  that  the  wife  of  Amylion  had  increased,  by  all  tha 
OMUki  in  her  pcrwer,  Mm  nifierii^  of  her  hoiband;  tlut  she  bad 


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600  SASLT  UfOLiaH  lUETKIClX  SOIUKCU. 

tnwniibl;  poneMcd  tunelf  of  all  liia  inheritance ;  ud  that  8ir 
AuTLu  her  fti2eraiii,oiinld  not  jiutJy  niffer  her  to  retain  a  gnat 
ttaati  lord^p  and  a  cwt«llatM  iiiiiiigion.<  On  the  olbae  haxii, 
£St  Am^lioo,  now  in  full  health,  had  little  to  do;  and  Child  Oaiejt 
waa  of  an  ago  to  enter  on  the  career  of  chivalry.  Sir  Amys  tba«- 
fore  ooDeoted  a  bodr  of  hii  Tawals,  and  began  his  march,  acocn- 
panied  by  Sir  Amylion  and  Oneys,  to  recover  the  fie£  The  ei- 
rirai  wM  not  difficnlt.  The  lady  had  thought  fit  to  lekct  a  net 
Lafiband,  and  was  actually  oelel»«tuig  the  bridal  feast  when  ths 
troopa  entered  the  hall.  The  guests,  who  were  nnmeroua  but 
onanned,  diBpersed  in  all  directions,  and  escaped  as  wdl  as  they 
could;  the  laorwas  ariied,  and  kept  in  durance  for  the  rest  of  her 
life;  Sit  Amyliim  formaUy re-entered  into  posaession  of  hk estates^ 
and,  having  summoned  all  his  vaieals,  caused  them  to  take  the 
oath  of  all^pauce  to  Child  Oneya.  He  thea  retaroed  with  Sir 
Anya,  whom  be  never  more  quitted  ;  and  the  two  brothers,  after 
many  ^ars  of  happineBs,  pasMd  the  decline  of  life  in  bandiiig  and 
ondowing  an  abbey,  and  in  other  acta  of  chaiity  and  devotion. 

Both  on  o'  day  thay  beth  dead, 

And  in  o  gmve  they  weren  laid, 
These  hende  knightcs  both  two : 

And,  for  her*  truth,  and  her  loodhede,' 

The  bliss  of  heaven  they  had  to  mede. 
That  lasteth  ever  mo. 

'  One.  '  Their.  ■  Goodaess, 


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